Oxidative stress in systemic lupus erythematosus and allied conditions with vascular involvement

• Published in: Rheumatology (Oxford, England) England), 1999-06, Vol.38 (6), p.529-534
• Main Authors: AMES, P. R. J, ALVES, J, MURAT, I, ISENBERG, D. A, NOUROOZ-ZADEH, J
• Format: Article
• Language: English
• Subjects: Adult; Aged; Autoimmune Diseases - physiopathology; Biological and medical sciences; Dinoprost - analogs & derivatives; Dinoprost - analysis; Female; Humans; Lipid Peroxidation; Lupus Erythematosus, Systemic - physiopathology; Male; Medical sciences; Middle Aged; Oxidative Stress; Sarcoidosis. Granulomatous diseases of unproved etiology. Connective tissue diseases. Elastic tissue diseases. Vasculitis; Vascular Diseases - physiopathology; Vasoconstrictor Agents - analysis
• ISSN: 1462-0324; 1462-0332
• DOI: 10.1093/rheumatology/38.6.529

To evaluate the occurrence and clinical significance of lipid peroxidation (oxidative stress) in rheumatic diseases characterized by vascular involvement. Plasma 8-epi-PGF2alpha (oxidative stress marker) was measured by gas chromatography-mass spectrometry in 36 patients with systemic lupus erythematosus (SLE), 13 with systemic sclerosis (SSc), 13 with systemic vasculitis [Wegener's granulomatosis (WG), n = 4; Churg Strauss syndrome (CSS), n = 3; Behcet syndrome, n = 6], 12 with rheumatoid arthritis (RA) and in 23 healthy controls (n = 23). 8-epi-PGF2alpha levels were higher in patients with SLE (P = 0.007), SSc (P < 0.001) and vasculitis (P = 0.001) than in controls. In SLE, a positive Coombs' test and arterial hypertension independently predicted 8-epi-PGF2alpha concentrations (P = 0.004 and P = 0.001, respectively). SLE patients not taking prednisolone showed higher 8-epi-PGF2alpha concentrations than SLE patients on prednisolone (P = 0.02). In the latter group, a dose response relationship was noted between 8-epi-PGF2alpha and steroid dosage (r = 0.6, P = 0.0003). In WG and CSS, 8-epi-PGF2alpha concentrations correlated with disease activity (r = 0.8, P = 0.01) and were higher than in patients with Behcet disease (P = 0.003). Oxidative stress may be pathogenetically relevant in some autoimmune rheumatic diseases with vascular involvement. Amelioration of some clinical manifestations of these diseases may be envisaged by targeting lipid peroxidation with dietary or pharmacological antioxidants.