Women with lupus have a five- to ten-fold increased risk of coronary heart disease compared to the general population. Several decades ago, when women with lupus died shortly after developing the disease, their deaths were attributed to previously undiagnosed and untreated active lupus. But when they died years after their diagnosis of lupus, their deaths were attributed to complications of atherosclerosis (hardening of the arteries). Similar to lupus, atherosclerosis is considered an inflammatory disease. Inflammation plays a major role in atherosclerosis, which results when fatty deposits, cholesterol and other materials accumulate in the blood vessels.