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Cardiovascular disease (CVD) is a leading cause of mortality in adults with systemic lupus erythematosus (SLE). As children with conditions such as chronic kidney disease have been shown to have a risk of CVD similar to their adult counterparts, clinicians have become concerned that paediatric patients with SLE are at increased risk of CVD. The aim of this project was to examine the vascular phenotype of a British paediatric population with SLE and gain mechanistic insights into this process. Structural changes in vessels were measured using carotid intima media thickness (cIMT) and function was assessed using pulse wave velocity (PWV). These findings were compared with clinical information, traditional cardiovascular risk factors, disease activity, medications and adipokine activity. 45 children were recruited to the study and compared to historical controls previously studied in our centre. Children with SLE had higher cIMT than controls (0.45 V 0.37mm, p |
