The aim of this study was to define the clinical associations of anti-endothelial cell antibody (AECA) in systemic lupus erythematosus (SLE) patients by measuring serum AECA titers to correlate with the disease activity and clinical manifestations. Forty-one SLE patients and 27 controls were studied. Serum samples were collected at the time of patient presentation with disease exacerbation and 4 weeks after the start of treatment. The disease activity was evaluated by the SLE Disease Activity Index (SLEDAI). AECA was detected by enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay (ELISA) methods with the surface antigen of the immortalized human microvascular endothelial cell line (HMEC-1). The mean immunoglobulin (Ig)G-AECA and IgM-AECA optical densities (ODs) were significantly higher in patients with SLE compared with controls [mean +/- standard deviation (SD), 0.32 +/- 0.15 vs 0.18 +/- 0.16 and 0.29 +/- 0.14 vs 0.21 +/- 0.09, respectively]. There was a positive correlation between IgG-AECA and the SLEDAI scores. The positivity rate of AECA in the groups with digital vasculitis, neuropsychiatric lupus, and anti-cardiolipin antibody was significant. In conclusion, AECA may be involved in the pathogenesis of SLE and was correlated with the disease activity. It was also associated with clinical manifestations such as digital vasculitis, neuropsychiatric lupus, and anti-cardiolipin antibody positivity.

Background Systemiclupus erythematosus(SLE)often affects women in their reproductive years. SLE has impact on their family size and planning, in addition to physical health. Objectives To determine factors affecting family size and family planning decisions among Korean women with systemic lupus erythematosus. Methods A case-control study comparing childbearing history and decisions of 112 SLE patients and 135 controls was performed. Data was collected through a survey with an existing cohort of women with SLE between ages of 18-45, who are/were married or living with a partner and matching controls. We assessed impact of SLE on pregnancy and family size, and factors influencing childbearing decisions. Results More women with SLE reported at least one pregnancy (85.7% vs 71.9%, p=0.009) or at least one live birth (85.7% vs 71. 8%, p=0.003) compared with controls; however, mean number of live birth was significantly lower in women with SLE (1.2±0.8 vs 1.6±0.8, p <0.001). Women diagnosed with SLE before the first child was born had the fewest children (p<0.001). Problems of decreased sexual interest (p=0.035) and menstrual irregularity (p<0.0001) were more common among SLE patients. Significantly more women with SLE made decision not to have children compared with controls (54.5% vs 40.7%, p=0.031), and SLE itself was the major cause of the decision. Socio-behavioral factors commonly influencing the childbearing decisions in controls such as woman’s and husband’s family size, drinking, decreased sexual interest, and amenorrhea did not have any influence on childbearing decisions in women with SLE. Conclusions The disease had significant impact on family size and family planning decisions among Korean women with SLE. Acknowledgements The study was supported by a grant of the Korean Healthcare R&D project (A080588) Disclosure of Interest None Declared