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1Rheumatology and Rehabilitation Department, Faculty of Medicine, Assiut University, Assiut, Egypt
2Medical Microbiology and Immunology Department, Faculty of Medicine, Assiut University, Assiut, Egypt
3Cardiovascular Medicine Department, Heart Hospital, Faculty of Medicine, Assiut University, Assiut, Egypt
4Diagnostic Radiology Department, Faculty of Medicine, Assiut University, Assiut, Egypt
MM Abdelaziz
Objectives: The current knowledge of human studies that address B cells in Systemic Lupus Erythematosus (SLE) patients with subclinical atherosclerosis remains insufficient. We aimed to evaluate the contribution of Breg cells in SLE and secondary antiphospholipid syndrome (APS) patients taking into consideration its relation to subclinical atherosclerosis and the disease activity. Methods: Thirty SLE patients and 23 controls were included. Systemic Lupus Erythematosus Disease Activity Index-2000 was estimated. Evaluation of Breg cells percentage using flow cytometry was done. All participants underwent carotid doppler ultrasound examination for measurements of the intima-media thickness of the common carotid artery (cIMT). The coronary artery calcium scoring was calculated using the Agatston method.
Results: The mean± SD of age was 32.60±8.34 years, while of the age of onset was 28.27±7.60 years. Twenty-three patients (76.7%) had subclinical atherosclerosis. There was a highly significant difference in Breg cells between SLE and APS patients with subclinical atherosclerosis and controls (P= 0.001, 0.005). SLE and APS patients had significantly higher mean cIMT than control (P=0.01, 0.050). Breg cells had 70% sensitivity and 87% specificity for diagnosing of SLE (P=0.01). Multivariate regression analysis indicated that low Breg cells were predictive for the disease activity (OR=1.76, 95% CI=1.21- 2.85; P= 0.01). Conclusion: SLE patients had a high frequency of subclinical atherosclerosis, those and patients with secondary APS had a high risk of plaque formation. We found a contribution of Breg cells in SLE patients with subclinical atherosclerosis. Breg cells are considered a good predictor of diagnosis of SLE.
Cite this article as: Abdelaziz MM, Fathi N, Hetta HF, Abdel-Galeel A, Zidan M, Shawky EM, Gamal RM. Regulatory B Cells Evaluation in Systemic Lupus Erythematosus Patients with Subclinical Atherosclerosis and Secondary Antiphospholipid Syndrome. Mediterr J Rheumatol 2023;34(4):486-94
Article Submitted: 12 Dec 2022; Revised Form: 22 Feb 2023; Article Accepted: 28 Feb 2023; Available Online: 03 Aug 2023
This work is licensed under a Creative Commons Attribution 4.0 International License.
©2023 The Author(s).
https://doi.org/10.31138/mjr.03823.rbc