Prediction of subclinical atherosclerosis by serum osteoprotegerin in premenopausal women with systemic lupus erythematous: correlation of osteoprotegerin with monocyte chemotactic protein-1.

The article presents a study which examines the association between serum osteoprotegerin (OPG) levels and subclinical atherosclerosis in premenopausal patients with systemic lupus erythematosus (SLE). Serum OPG levels and carotid artery intima-media thickness (IMT) were measured in 180 patients and 85 age-matched control subjects. It concludes that increased serum OPG level is associated with subclinical atherosclerosis in these patients.