Effects of Atorvastatin on Atherosclerosis and Atherogenesis in Systemic Lupus Erythematosus: A Pilot Study
Table 1
Baseline demographic and clinical characteristics of participants.
Placebo ()
AT naïve ()
AT continuing ()
Age (years), mean (SD)
45.9 (10.9)
47.6 (13.6)
54.8 (15.6)
Female (%)
14/14 (100.0%)
15/15 (100.0%)
5/5 (100.0%)
Caucasian (%)
11/14 (78.6%)
15/15 (100.0%)
5/5 (100.0%)
Black (%)
3/14 (21.4%)
0/15 (0.0%)
0/5 (0.0%)
Disease duration, median (IQR)
15.00 (7.50 to 22.75)
6.00 (2.00 to 13.00)
10.00#
Systolic BP (mmHg), median (IQR)
131.00* (113.00 to 143.00)
120.00∧ (105.5 to 130.7)
135.00#
Diastolic BP (mmHg), median (IQR)
80.00* (76.50 to 81.50)
77.00∧ (64.00 to 82.25)
82.00#
IMT CC mm, median (IQR)
0.055∧ (0.050 to 0.064)
0.055† (0.043 to 0.064)
0.060#
Past medical history
Diabetes, (%)
0/14 (0.0%)
0/13 (0.0%)
1/5 (20.0%)
Asthma/chronic bronchitis, (%)
1/14 (7.1%)
4/15 (26.7%)
0/5 (0.0%)
Renal disease, (%)
1/14 (7.1%)
3/14 (21.4%)
2/4 (50.0%)
Hypertension, (%)
8/14 (57.1%)
8/15 (53.3%)
5/5 (100.0%)
Ischaemic heart disease, (%)
1/14 (7.1%)
1/14 (7.1%)
1/4 (25.0%)
Cerebrovascular disease, (%)
2/13 (15.4%)
2/14 (14.3%)
2/4 (50.0%)
Peripheral vascular disease, (%)
2/14 (14.3%)
5/14 (35.7%)
1/4 (25.0%)
Gut Disease, (%)
1/14 (7.1%)
2/15 (13.3%)
1/4 (25.0%)
Hyperlipidaemia, (%)
3/13 (23.1%)
3/12 (25.0%)
3/4 (75.0%)
Ever smoked, (%)
8/14 (57.1%)
7/15 (46.7%)
2/4 (50.0%)
Pack years, median (IQR)
1.00 (0.75 to 28.75)
3.00 (1.00 to 19.00)
1# ()
BMI, median (IQR)
26.5* (23.5 to 29.2)
25.20 (22.58 to 32.46)
24.65#
Parental history, (%)
Diabetes mellitus
4/14 (28.6%)
3/13 (23.1%)
1/4 (25.0%)
Hypercholesterolaemia
3/13 (23.1%)
3/13 (23.1%)
1/3 (33.3%)
Myocardial infarction
6/14 (42.9%)
7/13 (53.8%)
1/4 (25.0%)
Myocardial infarction <50 yrs
0/14 (0.0%)
5/12 (41.7%)
0/4 (0.0%)
Ischaemic stroke
4/14 (28.6%)
5/13 (38.5%)
1/4 (25.0%)
Drug history, (%)
Prednisolone
7/14 (50.0%)
10/15 (66.7%)
3/5 (60.0%)
Hydroxychloroquine
7/14 (50.0%)
8/15 (53.3%)
2/5 (40.0%)
Methotrexate
2/14 (14.3%)
3/15 (20.0%)
0/5 (0.0%)
Antihypertensive
7/14 (50.0%)
6/15 (40.0%)
3/5 (60.0%)
Warfarin
1/14 (7.1%)
5/15 (33.3%)
0/5 (0.0%)
Aspirin
9/14 (64.3%)
2/15 (13.3%)
2/5 (40.0%)
Laboratory features
IgG aCL >20 GPL, (%)
1/14 (7.1%)
3/13 (23%)
0/5 (0.0%)
IgG aβ 2GPI >12 U/L, (%)
2/14 (14.2%)
3/13 (23%)
0/0 (0.0%)
Lupus anticoagulant, (%)
2/13 (14.2%)
3/15 (20%)
0/0 (0.0%)
Cholesterol, median (IQR)
5.15 (4.48 to 5.93)
4.30 (3.80 to 5.60)
5.00#
LDL, median (IQR)
2.80* (2.50 to 3.55)
2.70∧ (1.13 to 3.23)
2.30# ()
HDL, median (IQR)
1.75 (1.38 to 2.00)
1.35∧ (1.18 to 1.50)
2.60# ()
Creatinine, median (IQR)
79.00 (77.25 to 87.25)
82.00 (74.00 to 88.00)
88.00#
ESR, median (IQR)
15.0* (10.0 to 32.0)
16.00* (8.00 to 24.00)
20.00# ()
AT: atorvastatin; BP: blood pressure; BMI: body mass index; IQR: interquartile range; aCL: anticardiolipin; β 2GPI: beta-2-glycoprotein-1; ESR: erythrosedimentation rate. #Interquartile range not calculated due to small sample size , , and .
