Lupus & antiphospholipid syndrome
Interleukin-22 reflects adverse cardiometabolic features in SLE
Authors' conclusion
In patients with SLE, IL-22 identifies a phenotype of increased cardiovascular risk despite showing little relationship with current disease activity.
Study context
- Population
- Patients with SLE
- Participants
- 313 patients
- Outcome
- Association between serum IL-22 levels (ultrasensitive Simoa assay) and disease characteristics
Methodological detailsmultivariable linear regression
- Multivariable linear regression
Main finding
As reported in the abstract
Associations of serum IL-22 levels (multivariable adjustment)
- Independently linked to longer disease duration, cumulative damage (SLICC-DI >1) and inversely to MTX use; not significant after multiple comparison correction
- Disease activity, autoantibody profile or complement and interferon levels not significantly associated with IL-22
- Haematological parameters not related to circulating IL-22
- IL-22 inversely related to HDL-cholesterol and apolipoprotein A1, suggesting an adverse lipid profile
- Serum C-peptide independently related to higher IL-22; metabolic syndrome associated with increased IL-22
- Carotid intima-media thickness significantly correlated with higher IL-22 after adjustment; did not withstand adjustment for multiple testing
Observational data: associations, not effects.
Original publication
Interleukin-22 reflects adverse cardiometabolic features in SLE. Lupus Sci Med. Published 29 September 2026. doi:10.
Composed by AI from the published abstract and checked against it. How Briefs are made →