Renal arteriosclerosis can predict atherosclerosis CVD risk in lupus nephritis

In patients with lupus nephritis (LN), severe renal arteriosclerosis (r-ASCL) in diagnostic biopsies can predict an increased atherosclerosis cardiovascular disease (ASCVD) risk, according to a study.

Data from 189 patients with LN who underwent diagnostic biopsy were included. A total of 31% of patients had r-ASCL, with 7% having moderate/severe r-ASCL. Using systematically re-examined r-ASCL grade, prevalence increased to 39% for all instances of r-ASCL and 12% for having moderate/severe r-ASCL. Over 11 years of follow-up, there were 22 ASCVD events.

The authors found that severe r-ASCL in diagnostic LN biopsies was associated with 9-fold higher odds of ASCVD.

Reference
Garg S, Raval AN, Hansen KE, et al. Renal arteriosclerosis strongly associated atherosclerotic cardiovascular disease risk in lupus nephritis. Arthritis Care Res (Hoboken). 2021;DOI: 10.1002/acr.24552. Epub ahead of print. PMID: 33421305.