The role of urotensin II peptide in patients with systemic lupus erythematosus and raynaud phenomenon

ABSTRACTTHE ROLE OF UROTENSIN II PEPTIDE IN PATIENTS WITH SYSTEMICLUPUS ERYTHEMATOSUS AND RAYNAUD PHENOMENONDr. Hakan BUYUKHATIPOGLUResidency Thesis, Department of Internal MedicineCoordinator: Asist. Prof. Dr. Ahmet Mesut ONATMarch 2007, 58 pagesRecently potential functions of urotensin II peptide in different body systems andstructures have been studied due to its strong vasoconstrictor effect. Endothelialdysfunction and vasoconstrictor mechanisms constitute its basis acting mechanism.SLE is an independent risk factor for endothelial dysfunction. The Raynaudphenomenon exists in almost half of the SLE patients. Endothelial dysfunction andvasoconstriction are the major mechanism in the pathogenesis of Raynaudphenomenon. Thus, in this study we sought to find out the function of urotensin IIpeptide in patients of SLE and Raynaud phenomenon, and its association withdisease activity.15 Raynaud (-) SLE and 15 Raynaud (+) SLE patients and age-matchedhealthy controls were included in this study. Serum urotensin II levels were higher inpatients with SLE and SLE+Raynaud than in controls (p<0,001 ve p<0,01). Serumurotensin II levels were significantly higher in SLE+Raynaud patients than in SLEpatients (p=0.001). We found a significant positive correlation with serum urotensin IIlevels and total cholesterol and LDL (r=0,476, p=0.011 and r=0,460, p<0.024); and anegative correlation with HDL (r=-0447, p=0.029). There was no correlation betweenurotensin ıı and lipid parameters in control group. However, total cholesterol and LDLwere lower and HDL was higher in patients than in controls. There was no correlationbetween urotensin 2 and disease activity score, ESR and CRP.In conclusion, Urotensin II peptide might play a direct, or due to endothelialdysfunction an indirect role, in the pathogenesis of Raynaud phenomenon andsystemic lupus erythematosus...Keywords: Urotensin II, Systemic lupus erythematosus, Raynaud phenomenon,Vasoconstriction