Pediatric-onset systemic lupus erythematosus (pSLE) carries a high risk of cardiovascular disease mediated by chronic inflammation and premature atherosclerosis, but responsive surrogate outcome measures of cardiovascular (CV) risk are currently lacking. Loss of nocturnal blood pressure (NBP) decline by ambulatory blood pressure monitoring (ABPM) is common in children with pSLE, and has potential as an early, modifiable, non-invasive measure of vascular health. Loss of NBP decline predicts CV events in adults and may be a marker of endothelial dysfunction, which precedes structural changes in atherosclerosis. More importantly, cardiovascular risk associated with NBP decline is potentially reversible with renin-angiotensin-system (RAS) blockade. In order to determine the role of NBP decline as an outcome measure in pSLE, this proposal seeks to first understand which mechanisms of increased cardiovascular risk contribute to loss of NBP decline, and how NBP decline relates to endothelial function or other measures of subclinical atherosclerosis. Responsive outcome measures would enable studies of interventions to improve vascular health. Potential pharmacologic interventions include RAS blockade, which targets endothelial function without increasing infections from immune suppression. There is, however, a paucity of data to guide the use of RAS blockade in pSLE. The objectives of this proposal are to: 1) identify the major factors that contribute to loss of NBP decline in pSLE; 2) determine whether loss of NBP decline is associated with endothelial dysfunction and could serve as a CV risk marker or potential treatment target; and 3) determine whether RAS blockade is associated with a decreased risk of CV events in adolescents or young adults with SLE. We will perform a prospective longitudinal study of children with SLE recruited to undergo serial ABPM, peripheral endothelial function testing and comprehensive vascular profiles. We will also perform a retrospective analysis using advanced pharmacoepidemiologic methods to estimate the effect of RAS blockade on the risk of cardiovascular events among adolescents and adults in a large electronic health record database. K23 Candidate Dr. Chang completed a Master of Science in Clinical Epidemiology at the University of Pennsylvania (UPenn) and has been appointed as an Assistant Professor at the Children?s Hospital of Philadelphia (CHOP). The proposed research and training plan will provide her with the necessary experience conducting prospective patient-oriented research, expand her expertise in non-invasive vascular assessment and cardiovascular outcomes research, and provide advanced training in pharmacoepidemiologic methods, to become an expert in early identification and prevention of cardiovascular complications of child-onset rheumatic disease. She has established a strong multidisciplinary mentoring team that, together with the vast resources at CHOP and UPenn, will facilitate the proposed work and foster her development as an independent investigator and leader at the cross-section of cardiology and pediatric rheumatology.
Lupus is one of the top 10 leading causes of non-accidental death in adolescent females. Children and adolescents with lupus develop early blood vessel injury that significantly increases their risk of early heart attacks and strokes in adulthood. We currently do not know how to monitor or prevent these changes in childhood-onset lupus, which is more severe and confers greater cumulative tissue damage than adult-onset lupus. The proposed project seeks to determine whether blood pressure patterns and blood vessel function can be used to evaluate vascular health in children with lupus, and to assess whether medications used to prevent heart disease in other conditions may be beneficial in adolescents and young adults with lupus.
