International Journal of Chemical and Biochemical Sciences (ISSN 2226-9614)[/vc_column_text][/vc_column][/vc_row]
VOLUME 27(21) (2025)
Cardiovascular disease in autoimmune disorders
Ramy Rashed Mohamed Abdelkader, Eyad Munir Almubarak
Dubai Hospital, Dubai, UAE
Abstract
Autoimmune disorders characterized by aberrant immune attacks on self-antigens are recognized to be significant risk factors for cardiovascular disease (CVD), which is a leading worldwide cause of death. Systemic lupus erythematosus (SLE), rheumatoid arthritis (RA), and antiphospholipid syndrome (APS) are among the autoimmune conditions with strong associations with premature atherosclerosis, thrombosis, and cardiac dysfunction. This literature review merges the current evidence on the pathophysiological mechanisms linking autoimmune disorders to CVD, its diagnostic approach, clinical associations, and therapeutic implications. Systematic studies were conducted on PubMed, Scopus, and Web of Science using the following keywords: “autoimmune disorders” AND “cardiovascular disease,” “systemic lupus erythematosus” AND “atherosclerosis,” and “rheumatoid arthritis” AND “cardiac risk” for studies published between 2015 and 2025. The key mechanisms are chronic inflammation, endothelial injury due to autoantibodies, and dyslipidemia, and the presence of anti-phospholipid antibodies and elevated levels of cytokines in over 70% of SLE-related CVD. Diagnostic modalities, such as coronary artery calcium (CAC) scoring and cytokine profiling, are promising but are compromised by assay variability and concordant clinical presentation. Immunomodulating therapy, such as methotrexate and biologics, reduces the risk of CVD in RA by 20–30%, but efficacy is disorder-variable. This review identifies the critical intersection of autoimmunity and CVD, emphasizing the significance of standardized biomarkers, integrated risk assessment models, and future research in an attempt to maximize diagnosis and management.
Keywords: autoimmune disorders, cardiovascular disease, antiphospholipid syndrome, atherosclerosis, inflammation.
Full length article *Corresponding Author, e-mail: ramyrashedmohamed@yahoo.com Doi # https://doi.org/10.62877/18-IJCBS-25-27-21-18