Clonal haematopoiesis of indeterminate potential and cardiovascular events in systemic lupus erythematosus (HEMATOPLUS study).

Objective: The detection of somatic mutations among the genes of myeloid cells in asymptomatic patients-defining clonal haematopoiesis of indeterminate potential (CHIP)-is associated with a predisposition to cardiovascular events (CVEs) in the general population. We aimed to determine whether CHIP was associated with CVEs in SLE patients.

Methods: The study is an ancillary study of the randomized, double-blind, placebo-controlled, multicentre PLUS trial conducted from June 2007 through August 2010 at 37 centres in France, involving 573 SLE patients.

Highly sensitive serum cardiac troponin T and cardiovascular events in patients with systemic lupus erythematosus (TROPOPLUS study).

Objective: Identification of biological markers able to better stratify cardiovascular risks in SLE patients is needed. We aimed to determine whether serum cardiac troponin T (cTnT) levels measured with a highly sensitive assay [high sensitivity cTnT (HS-cTnT)] may predict cardiovascular events (CVEs) in SLE.

Method: All SLE patients included between 2007 and 2010 in the randomized, double-blind, placebo-controlled, multicentre PLUS trial were screened.

Effects of BAFF Neutralization on Atherosclerosis Associated With Systemic Lupus Erythematosus.

Objective: Cardiovascular disease (CVD) is the leading cause of death in systemic lupus erythematosus (SLE). B cells play a key role in the pathogenesis of lupus, and anti-BAFF therapy has been approved for use in SLE. Since mature B cells also promote atherosclerosis, we undertook this study to evaluate, in a mouse model and in SLE patients, whether BAFF neutralization has an atheroprotective effect in SLE.