Metabolic syndrome in patients with systemic lupus erythematosus: Association with disease activity, disease damage and age.

Aim: Systemic lupus erythematosus (SLE) is associated with an increased risk of cardiovascular involvement. Metabolic syndrome (MetS) includes a group of classic cardiovascular risk factors with probably proinflammatory conditions. The aim of the present study was to evaluate the frequency of MetS in SLE patients.