PT  - JOURNAL ARTICLE
AU  - Alexánderson, Erick
AU  - Ochoa, Juan M.
AU  - Calleja, Rodrigo
AU  - Juárez-Rojas, Juan G.
AU  - Prior, John O.
AU  - Jácome, Rodrigo
AU  - Romero, Edgar
AU  - Meave, Aloha
AU  - Posadas-Romero, Carlos
TI  - Endothelial Dysfunction in Systemic Lupus Erythematosus: Evaluation with <sup>13</sup>N-Ammonia PET
AID  - 10.2967/jnumed.110.078212
DP  - 2010 Dec 01
TA  - Journal of Nuclear Medicine
PG  - 1927--1931
VI  - 51
IP  - 12
4099  - http://jnm.snmjournals.org/content/51/12/1927.short
4100  - http://jnm.snmjournals.org/content/51/12/1927.full
SO  - J Nucl Med2010 Dec 01; 51
AB  - Systemic lupus erythematosus (SLE) affects multiple organs and systems, severely involving the cardiovascular system. The aim of this study was to evaluate the presence of endothelial dysfunction with 13N-ammonia PET in asymptomatic SLE patients. Methods: We enrolled 16 women with SLE and 16 healthy women. Myocardial blood flow (MBF) was quantified in a 64-slice PET/CT scanner at rest, during a cold pressor test (CPT), and during stress. Endothelium-dependent vasodilation index, %ΔMBF, and myocardial flow reserve (MFR) were calculated. Results: There were 16 women in the SLE group (mean age ± SD, 31.4 ± 8.3 y) and 16 women in the healthy control group (31.5 ± 11.1 y). Mean endothelium-dependent vasodilatation index and %ΔMBF were significantly lower in SLE patients (1.18 ± 0.55 vs. 1.63 ± 0.65, P = 0.04, and 18 ± 55 vs. 63 ± 65, P = 0.04, respectively). MFR was also lower in the SLE group (2.41 ± 0.59 vs. 2.73 ± 0.77, P = 0.20). Conclusion: SLE patients who are free of active disease present abnormal coronary flow and endothelial dysfunction. It is necessary to develop and intensify treatment strategies directed to CAD in SLE patients.