Prediction of cardiovascular risk in patient with SLE using non-invasive coronary plaque imaging

2023 Fiscal Year Final Research Report

• Project/Area Number: 20K17431
• Research Category: Grant-in-Aid for Early-Career Scientists
• Allocation Type: Multi-year Fund
• Review Section: Basic Section 54020:Connective tissue disease and allergy-related
• Research Institution: Showa University
• Principal Investigator: Hosonuma Masahiro 昭和大学, 医学部, 講師 (20836457)
• Project Period (FY): 2020-04-01 – 2024-03-31
• Keywords: 動脈硬化 / 血管周囲脂肪 / 全身性エリテマトーデス / 関節リウマチ

Outline of Final Research Achievements

To elucidate the risk of coronary plaque formation in SLE, high-risk plaques were assessed by coronary CT. No high-risk plaques were found in young, early-onset SLE patients, and long-term follow-up was necessary to identify risk factors and clarify the pathophysiology.
On the other hand, in rheumatoid arthritis (RA), an autoimmune disease with a high incidence of ischaemic heart disease as well as SLE, the fat attenuation index (FAI) was higher in patients with plaque lesions. Furthermore, the FAI showed a mild positive correlation with the coronary calcification score, indicating that plaque formation is more advanced in RA patients with more severe inflammation of the pericoronary fat.

Free Research Field

臨床免疫学

Academic Significance and Societal Importance of the Research Achievements

本研究により自己免疫疾患の動脈硬化進行機序の１つとして冠動脈周囲脂肪の炎症の存在が示唆された。
本研究の検討内容の継続的な実施により全身性エリテマトーデス、関節リウマチを含む自己免疫疾患の動脈硬化進行の機序解明及び新規治療開発に繋がることが期待される。