ABSTRACT
Objective To assess the coronary flow reserve in the patients with systemic lupus erythematosus(SLE)by transthroracic echocardiography(TTE).Methods Coronary sinus blood flow of 24 SLE patients and 18 matched healthy controls were assessed by TTE.The coronary flow reserve was calculated as the ratio of hyperemic to baseline blood flow.Hyperemia was induced by intravenous administration of dipyridamole.Results Adequate recordings of blood flow in the coronary sinus under both conditions were obtained by TTE in all study subjects.Patients with SLE were found to have significantly decreased coronary flow reserve comparing with normal SUbiects(1.55±0.21 versus 2.51±0.33.P＜0.01).Conclusions Coronary flow reserve can be measured by TTE in SLE patients,Coronary flow reserve is impaired suggesting that SLE patients may have subclinical coronary artery disease.