Aim: The aim of the study was to assess the connection between serum concentration of anti-HSP70 antibodies and early atheromatosis in patients with systemic lupus erythematosus (SLE).
Material and methods: 16 patients with SLE (aged 27-60 years; mean age 44.4 years) and 13 healthy volunteers (aged 24-57 years; mean age 43.1) entered the study. In all subjects intima media thickness (IMT) of carotid arteries and serum concentration of anti-HSP70 antibodies were assessed.
Results: In the SLE group IMT of the common carotid artery, internal carotid artery and bulbs of the carotid artery were bilaterally significantly thicker than in the control group, proving that the arteriosclerosis was more advanced in the SLE group. In the SLE group a statistically significant correlation between IMT and age was found. Apart from this in the SLE group there was a statistically significant negative correlation between mean IMT of the right common carotid artery and HDL concentration (RP = &#8211;0.54, p < 0.05). In the SLE group a correlation between IMT and doses of glucocorticosteroids was found. The difference in concentration of anti-HSP70 antibodies between groups was not significant (116.5 ±188.0 µg/ml vs. 236.3 ±319.5 µg/ml; p > 0.05). In both groups no correlation between IMT and serum concentration of anti-HSP70 antibodies was found.
Conclusions: In our study we did not confirm the correlation between anti-HSP70 antibodies and atheromatosis that was described by other authors.