Antibodies against oxidized low‐density lipoproteins in systemic sclerosis

Objective. To investigate whether circulating concentrations of antibodies against oxidized low‐density lipoproteins (LDL) are increased in patients with systemic sclerosis (SSc). Methods. Oxidation of LDL and anti‐oxidized LDL antibodies were measured in 26 patients with limited cutaneous SSc (LCSSc), in eight patients with diffuse cutaneous SSc (DCSSc) and in 24 healthy control subjects. Results were adjusted for age, sex and smoking. Results. Binding to oxidized LDL was increased in patients with both limited and diffuse cutaneous disease (geometric mean 0.35 and 0.39 optical density units respectively) compared with controls (0.28) (P=0.03 and P=0.01 respectively). Circulating concentrations of anti‐oxidized LDL were increased only in patients with diffuse SSc (geometric mean 0.22 optical density units) compared with controls (geometric mean 0.16, P=0.02). Conclusion. These preliminary findings lend further weight to the concept that oxidation of LDL contributes to the vascular pathology of SSc, particularly in patients with diffuse cutaneous disease. Prospective longitudinal studies are required to investigate whether anti‐oxidized LDL antibodies may be a marker of vascular damage in SSc.