Study Identifies Biomarkers of Pulmonary Arterial Hypertension Risk in SLE

Two autoantibodies have been identified as risk factors for pulmonary arterial hypertension (PAH) in patients with systemic lupus erythematosus (SLE), according to a recent study.
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In order to identify serological biomarkers that could be considered risk factors of SLE-associated PAH, researchers conducted a meta-analysis of 12 studies involving mostly patients of Asian descent. The researchers sought to examine the relationship between anti-RNP, anti-SM, anti-dsDNA, anti-SSA, and anti-SSB, all of which would be routinely tested in patients with SLE.

Overall, anti-RNP was the strongest predictor of PAH, with a pooled odds ratio of 3.68. Anti-Sm was also associated with PAH risk, with a pooled odds ratio of 1.71.

“Pulmonary arterial hypertension is a serious complication of SLE with a worse prognosis than SLE patients without pulmonary arterial hypertension. The early recognition of pulmonary arterial hypertension with transthoracic echocardiography routinely performed in SLE patients with risk factors is necessary, especially in Asian patients,” the researchers concluded.

—Michael Potts

Wang J, Qian J, Wang Y, et al. Serological biomarkers as risk factors of SLE-associated pulmonary arterial hypertension: a systematic review and meta-analysis [published online April 14, 2017. Lupus. doi: https://doi.org/10.1177/0961203317702255.