NEW YORK, Dec. 18 (UPI) -- A Weill Medical College of Cornell University study in New York City found people with lupus develop hardening of the arteries at an accelerated rate.
The study, published in Thursday's New England Journal of Medicine, examined 197 people with lupus and the same number of matched controls.
Risk factors for cardiovascular disease, including family history of heart disease, cholesterol levels, smoking and hypertension, were similar in both groups, but atherosclerosis, as evidenced by carotid ultrasound, was more prevalent in lupus patients.
"Although we've known for some time that there is an association between lupus and premature heart attacks, until now we haven't understood well the reasons," said Dr. Stephen I. Katz, director National Institute of Arthritis and Musculoskeletal and Skin Diseases. "This study gives us a basis to pursue intervention strategies for reducing cardiovascular risks."
Lupus is a rheumatic disease that can affect many parts of the body, including the joints, skin, kidneys, heart, lungs, blood vessels and brain.
