Aspirin and Statins for Prevention of Atherosclerosis and Arterial Thromboembolism in Systemic Lupus Erythematosus

Inclusion Criteria: 1. Age \> 18 years 2. Fulfillment of at least 4 of the American College of Rheumatology (ACR) criteria for SLE 3. Presence of any two of the following risk factors: * SLE duration of \>= 5 years * Postmenopausal * Age \>= 40 years * Diabetes mellitus * Hypertension (140/90 mmHg) * Serum low density lipoprotein (LDL) level \>= 2.6 mmol/L or total cholesterol \>= 5.5 mmol/L * Obesity (body mass index \>= 27 kg/m2) * Chronic current smoker * Positive antiphospholipid antibodies * Renal function impairment * Persistent proteinuria \>= 1 gm/day for \>= 6 months 4. Informed consent obtained Exclusion Criteria: 1. Patients with known allergy to aspirin, or any other non-steroidal anti-inflammatory drugs (NSAIDs), or statins 2. Patient with a history of severe gastrointestinal intolerance to aspirin (e.g., gastrointestinal bleeding) or other NSAIDs 3. Patients with history of arterial or venous thromboembolism 4. Patients receiving aspirin or other anti-platelet agents 5. Patients receiving long-term non-aspirin NSAIDs 6. Patients receiving anticoagulation therapy (e.g., warfarin) 7. Patients with history of intolerance or allergy to the statins 8. Pregnant or lactating women