185 Serum tumourtumor necrosis (TNF)-like weak inducer of apoptosis (TWEAK) and leptin as biomarkers of accelerated atherosclerosis in patients with systemic lupus erythematosus and antiphospholipid syndrome

Background and aims Patients with systemic lupus erythematosus (SLE) and antiphospholipidsyndrome (APS) are at increased risk of atherosclerosis, and occurs much earlier compared to the general population even after accounting for traditional risk factors. Aim of the work: To examine the association between serum TWEAK, leptin and subclinical atherosclerosis in SLE and APS. Patients and methods Serum tumour necrosis factor (TNF)-like weak inducer of apoptosis(TWEAK) and leptin were measured in 30 SLE patients, 26 SLE patients with secondary APS(SLE–APS), 14 with primary APS (pAPS) and 20 age and sex matched control. The SLE diseaseactivity index (SLEDAI) was assessed in SLE patients. The intima media thickness (IMT) was measuredby carotid ultrasound. Results Serum TWEAK was significantly higher in patients with pAPS (945.1±16.2 pg/ml) than in SLE–APS (755.3±59.9 pg/ml), SLE patients (499.2±47.1 pg/ml) and control(129.6±18.6 pg/ml) (p Conclusions Patients with pAPS are more liable to develop premature atherosclerosis even in theabsence of the traditional risk factors.