Endothelial dysfunction in Iranian lupus patients.

Atherosclerosis has a high prevalence in systemic lupus erythematosus (SLE) patients and vascular endothelial dysfunction is the earliest stage of atherosclerosis. The aim of this study was to evaluate the prevalence of vascular endothelial dysfunction and its risk factors in SLE patients and to identify its correlation with disease activity, duration and concomitant conditions in these patients. A total of 84 female SLE patients and 18 healthy young women were included.