Dyslipidemia in Adult Dermatomyositis and Polymyositisis not Associated with Anti-Lipoprotein Lipase

Dyslipidemia has been observed in many systemic autoimmune diseases, including systemic lupus erythematosus, Dermatomyositis (DM) and Polymyositis (PM). In systemic lupus erythematosus, the mechanism of dyslipidemia has been attributed to the presence of Anti-Lipoprotein Lipase (anti-LPL) antibodies. A similar pattern of dyslipidemia can also be observed in patients with DM and PM. Therefore, the aim of this study was to determine the possible presence of anti-LPL antibodies in 69 consecutive patients with DM and PM. The IgG anti-LPL was detected by a standard ELISA. The lipoprotein risk levels were evaluated according to National Cholesterol Education Program-Adult Treatment Panel III (NCEP/ATPIII). The mean age of patients with DM and PM was 31.6±10.2 and 29.4±9.1 years, respectively. There was a predominance of female gender and white ethnicity. Lipoprotein NCEP risk levels were observed in 69.8% of DM and 68.8% of PM patients. Despite the high frequency of dyslipidemia in these patients, no anti-LPL antibodies were detected. Our data suggest that a distinct physiopathogenicity is involved in dyslipidemia. Additional studies are necessary to elucidate the dyslipidemic mechanisms in these inflammatory myopathic diseases.