Aspirin and Statins for Prevention of Atherosclerosis and Arterial Thromboembolism in Systemic Lupus Erythematosus

Inclusion Criteria

• •1. Age \> 18 years
• •2. Fulfillment of at least 4 of the American College of Rheumatology (ACR) criteria for SLE
• •3. Presence of any two of the following risk factors:
• •* SLE duration of \>= 5 years
• •* Postmenopausal
• •* Age \>= 40 years
• •* Diabetes mellitus
• •* Hypertension (140/90 mmHg)
• •* Serum low density lipoprotein (LDL) level \>= 2.6 mmol/L or total cholesterol \>= 5.5 mmol/L
• •* Obesity (body mass index \>= 27 kg/m2)
• •* Chronic current smoker
• •* Positive antiphospholipid antibodies
• •* Renal function impairment
• •* Persistent proteinuria \>= 1 gm/day for \>= 6 months
• •4. Informed consent obtained