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High sensitivity C-reactive protein in systemic lupus erythematosus: relation to disease activity, clinical presentation and implications for cardiovascular risk

Department of Medicine, Division of Rheumatology & Clinical Immunology, University of Florida, Gainesville, FL 32610-0221, USA

S Narain

Department of Medicine, Division of Rheumatology & Clinical Immunology, University of Florida, Gainesville, FL 32610-0221, USA

A Naranjo

Department of Biostatistics, University of Florida, Gainesville, FL 32610-0221, USA

J Shuster

Department of Biostatistics, University of Florida, Gainesville, FL 32610-0221, USA

M S Segal

Nephrology, Hypertension and Transplantation, University of Florida, Gainesville, FL 32610-0221, USA

E S Sobel

Department of Medicine, Division of Rheumatology & Clinical Immunology, University of Florida, Gainesville, FL 32610-0221, USA

A E Armstrong

Department of Medicine, Division of Rheumatology & Clinical Immunology, University of Florida, Gainesville, FL 32610-0221, USA

B E Santiago

Department of Medicine, Division of Rheumatology & Clinical Immunology, University of Florida, Gainesville, FL 32610-0221, USA

W H Reeves

Department of Medicine, Division of Rheumatology & Clinical Immunology, University of Florida, Gainesville, FL 32610-0221, USA

H B Richards

Department of Medicine, Division of Rheumatology & Clinical Immunology, University of Florida, Gainesville, FL 32610-0221, USA, richahb{at}medicine.ufl.edu

Measurement of high sensitivity C-reactive protein (hs-CRP), has been used in the assessment of disease activity in numerous rheumatic conditions including systemic lupus erythematosus (SLE). However, the utility of hs-CRP measurement in patients with lupus is uncertain. This study examined if hs-CRP can be used to assess disease activity, severity and cardiovascular risk in SLE. Serum samples from 601 visits of 213 SLE patients and 134 controls were analysed for hs-CRP by nephelometry. Detailed demographic data were obtained from all subjects and medication history and key laboratory parameters were collected. Disease activity was assessed using the SLEDAI. High sensitivity CRP was not associated with disease activity (SLEDAI), number of ACR SLE criteria or presence of any particular organ involvement. hs-CRP levels were significantly correlated with standard cardiovascular risk factors including body weight (P = 0.0002), hypertension (P = 0.001), and apolipoprotein A-I (P < 0.0001). Interestingly an inverse correlation was seen between hs-CRP levels and antimalarial use (P = 0.0018). Our results suggest that measurement of hs-CRP, though not valuable as marker of disease activity in SLE may be of some use in the assessment of cardiovascular risk. We speculate that antimalarials may help to reduce cardiovascular risk in patients with SLE.

Key Words: C-reactive protein • hs-CRP • SLE

Lupus, Vol. 14, No. 8, 576-582 (2005)
DOI: 10.1191/0961203305lu2157oa


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