Individuals who suffer from lupus, a chronic inflammatory disease, may be at a higher risk for developing cardiovascular disease.
According to findings that were published in the journal Arthritis & Rheumatism, the increase of anti-apolipoprotein (anti-Apo A-I), anti-high-density lipoprotein (anti-HDL) and anti-C-reactive protein (anti-CRP) in lupus patients may contribute to the development of atherosclerosis, which increase a patients risk for developing cardiovascular disease.
It was found that 55 percent of individuals who suffer from lupus had higher levels of Anti-Aop A-I levels when they were experiencing inflammation.
“The main finding in our study was that levels of anti-Apo A-I and anti-HDL were significantly higher in patients with greater disease activity than in those with less active disease over the same period,” said the authors.
The researchers found that this study was an important step to figuring out why patients who actively experience inflammation may be at a greater risk for the heart condition, but noted more studies must be conducted to find a solution.