0000000000255982
AUTHOR
Freya Lütgendorf
AB0691 INCREASED CARDIOVASCULAR RISK IN MIXED CONNECTIVE TISSUE DISEASE: EVALUATION OF MACROVASCULAR INVOLVEMENT AND ITS PREDICTORS BY AORTIC PULSE WAVE VELOCITY
Background: Macrovascular involvement and cardiovascular (CV) risk have not been sufficiently studied in patients with mixed connective tissue disease (MCTD). In particular, the gold standard assessment method of aortic stiffness carotid-femoral pulse wave velocity (cfPWV) (1) has never been evaluated in patients with this disease. Objectives: Aims of the present study were to examine cfPWV in MCTD and to evaluate its associations with MCTD associated parameters and traditional CV risk factors. Methods: cfPWV measurements were performed in 43 MCTD patients and 107 healthy controls. The difference between cfPWV in the two groups was statistically examined and subsequently controlled for the …
Fatigue in SLE: diagnostic and pathogenic impact of anti-N-methyl-D-aspartate receptor (NMDAR) autoantibodies.
ObjectivesWe explored the impact of circulating anti-N-methyl-D-aspartate receptor (NMDAR) antibodies on the severity of fatigue in patients with systemic lupus erythematosus (SLE).MethodsSerum samples of 426 patients with SLE were analysed for the presence of antibodies to the NR2 subunit of the NMDAR. In parallel, the severity of fatigue was determined according to the Fatigue Scale for Motor and Cognitive functions questionnaire. In a subgroup of patients with SLE, the hippocampal volume was correlated with the levels of anti-NR2 antibodies. Isolated immunoglobulin G from patients with anti-NR2 antibodies were used for murine immunohistochemical experiments and functional assays on neuro…