Abstract 374: Does Aortic Stiffness Precede, Follow or Occur Simultaneously with Aortic Atherosclerosis?

Background: Aortic stiffness (AoS) and atherosclerosis (AoA) are common in systemic lupus erythematosus (SLE). Whether AoS precedes, follows, or occurs simultaneously with AoA is unknown. Methods: 75 SLE patients (68 women, age 37±12 years) and 26 age-and-sex matched healthy controls underwent transesophageal echocardiography for assessment of AoS and AoA of the proximal, mid and distal thoracic aorta. Brachial blood pressures were obtained and matched in time with measurement of aortic diameters. AoS was assessed using the Pressure-Strain Elastic Modulus (PSEM) = [k(sBP–dBP)/(SD-dD/dD)] where k = 133.3 is the conversion factor from mmHg to Nm-2 [Pascal units (U)], sBP=systolic blood pressure, dBP=diastolic blood pressure, SD=systolic diameter and dD=diastolic diameter. AoS was defined as the mean PSEM of controls +1.5SD = >9.4U. AoA was assessed using two-dimensional and M-mode images and defined as intima-media thickening (mean intima-media thickness of controls +2SD = >0.96mm) or plaques (>50% focal wa...