THE ATHEROSCLEROSIS PREVENTION IN PEDIATRIC LUPUS ERYTHEMATISIS (APPLE) STUDY

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This subproject is one of many research subprojects utilizing the resources provided by a Center grant funded by NIH/NCRR. The subproject and investigator (PI) may have received primary funding from another NIH source, and thus could be represented in other CRISP entries. The institution listed is for the Center, which is not necessarily the institution for the investigator. Systemic Lupus Erythematosus (SLE) is an uncommon, potentially life-threatening, autoimmune disease of inflammation of the blood vessels all over the body. In children, the most common organs affected are the skin, the joints, the kidney, the heart and the brain. In general, childhood SLE is more severe than it is in adults because more organs are affected and affected more severely. Atherosclerosis is a disease common in older adults and is caused by a narrowing of the blood vessels caused by fatty deposits to the lining of the vessels. Atherosclerosis increases the risk of cardiac infarction and stroke. Lipid-lowering drugs lower the fat content in blood, prevent further fat from sticking to the lining of blood vessels and also may dissolve fatty deposit on blood vessels. These drugs have been shown to reduce the risk of heart attack and stroke. Because of the inflammation in their blood vessels and abnormalities in the way their bodies handle fat, patients with SLE are more likely to develop atherosclerosis at an earlier age. Patients with SLE are at an increase risk for cardiac infarction and stroke. In this study, we plan to assess children and adolescents with SLE for the development of atherosclerosis over a period of three years. Additionally, + of the study subjects will take a lipid-lowering agent and + of the subjects will take a placebo. We hope the show that the children who take the lipid-lowering agent develop less atherosclerosis.