ATHEROSCLEROTIC CHANGES ON HEAD AND NECK BLOOD VESSELS IN PATIENTS WITH SYSTEMIC LUPUS ERYTHEMATOSUS

Suada Mulić, Hajrija Selesković, Nedima Kapidžić Bašić, Mario Križić Enver, Zerem Amra Čičkušić, Zumreta Kušljugić, Fahir Baraković, Ešref Bećirović, Nataša Križić, Alma Hajdarović

The aim of this study was to evaluate the presence of atherosclerotic plaque of head and neck blood vessels and to determine the dynamics of circulation through the brain blood vessels in patients with systemic lupus erythematosus (SLE). In 35 patients with SLE aged 37.67±9.96 and whose disease lasted 3.8±4.51 years, Doppler carotid ultrasonography was used to identify the presence of intima-media thickness or atherosclerotic plaque. Brain perfusion scintigraphy was done in 15 out of 35 patients in order to evaluate the dynamics in circulation through carotid and cerebral media arteries. Measured by Doppler ultrasound, 2/35 of examined lupus patients had a plaque and the 2/35 had an intimal-medial thickness. The results of perfusion scintigraphy in 15 examined patients out 35 with SLE showed that 5/15 had mild circulatory changes in carotidogram. 4/15 patients had mild changes in cerebra media arteries circulation, 1/15 had severe changes in carotid circulation and 5/15 patients had normal brain scintigraphy finding. Some of the patients with SLE have atherosclerotic changes and only the early detection of atherosclerosis may provide an opportunity for therapeutic intervention.

Cilj rada je evaluirati prisustvo aterosklerotskog plaka na krvnim sudovima glave i vrata te procjeniti promjene u cirkulaciji kroz krvne sudove mozga u bolesnika sa sistemskim eritemskim lupusom (SLE). U 35 pacijenata sa SLE prosječne životne dobi 37,67±9,96 godina i dužine trajanja bolesti od 3,8±4,51godina uradila se Doppler ultrasonografi ja karotidnih arterija da bi se ustanovilo eventualno prisustvo zadebljanja intima-media zida krvnog suda ili prisustvo aterosklerotskog plaka. Perfuziona scintigrafija mozga uradi se u 15 od 35 pacijenata sa ciljem procjene promjena u cirkulaciji kroz krvne sudove mozga. Mjereno ultrazvučno 2/35 pacijenata sa lupusom su imali aterosklerotski plak, a 2/35 zadebljanje zida krvnog suda. Rezultati scintigrafije mozga su pokazali blage cirkulatorne promjene na karotidogramu u 5/15 pacijenata, 4/15 pacijenata su imali blage promjene u cirkulaciji kroz aa. cerebri mediae. 1/15 je imao teške promjene u karotidnoj cirkulaciji, dok je u 5/15 pacijenata nalaz bio uredan. U pacijenata sa SLE postoji određen stepen aterosklerotskih promjena te samo rana dijegnoza može doprinjeti pravodobnoj terapijskoj intervenciji.