Chronic inflammation coupled with cardiovascular disease (CVD) risk factors influences the progression of atherosclerosis in systemic lupus erythematosus (SLE). High-sensitivity C-reactive protein (hs-CRP) and homocysteine (Hcy) are associated with the risk of CVD in the general population, but their associations with CV risk and disease activity in SLE are unclear. In this cross-sectional study ( N = 139 SLE patients, mean age = 45.27 ± 13.18 years), we investigated associations between hs-CRP and Hcy levels and disease activity, damage accrual, and CVD risk in SLE. Disease activity and damage accrual were measured with the SLE Activity Index 2000 (SLEDAI-2K), the Systemic Lupus Erythematosus International Collaborating Clinics Group/American College of Rheumatology damage index (SDI), and anti-double-stranded DNA antibodies (anti-dsDNA). CVD risk factors of obesity, diabetes mellitus, hypertension, blood lipids, and ankle–brachial index were collected. Linear regression analysis and one-way analysis of variance were used to analyze relationships of hs-CRP and Hcy with SLE activity, damage accrual, and CVD risk factors. Results: hs-CRP correlated significantly with SLEDAI-2K ( p = .036), SDI ( p = .00), anti-dsDNA titers ( p = .034), diabetes ( p = .005), and obesity ( p = .027). hs-CRP and Hcy correlated with triglyceride (TG) levels ( p = .032 and p < .001, respectively), TG/high-density lipoprotein cholesterol index ( p = .020 and p = .001, respectively), and atherogenic index of plasma ( p = .006 and p = .016, respectively). hs-CRP levels >3 mg/L correlated with SDI score ( p = .012) and several CVD risk factors. Discussion: Findings suggest SLE patients with elevated hs-CRP and/or Hcy have a higher prevalence of CVD risk factors.

The purpose of this paper was to examine memory performance in patients with SLE by studying the overall deterioration in memory, analyzing the differences and frequency of impairment in the variables from the visual and verbal memory tests, and studying the alterations in the memory. This study included 59 patients with a diagnosis of systemic lupus erythematosus (SLE) and 18 with a diagnosis of chronic discoid lupus (CDL), who were administered the Spanish complutense verbal learning test (TAVEC) and the Rey complex figure test (RCFT). Statistically significant differences were detected between the two groups on the immediate visual recall and delayed visual recall variables, with the mean of the SLE group being lower than that of the CDL group. The difference between the frequency of verbal and visual impairment could be explained by various factors, one of which would be a lateralization of memory impairment.

Nevertheless, the long-term evolution of this entity has not been described yet, nor have precise recommendations regarding the most adequate posology and duration of therapy. We report the result of switching from a long-term cyclosporine therapy to tacrolimus in a patient with a severe form of cytophagic histiocytic panniculitis.

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