Cardiac manifestations of systemic lupus erythematosus patients

ABSTRACT

The present study was performed on twenty-five SLE patients. They were classified according to Doppler Echocardiographic findings into 2 groups Group I included 17 patients [68%] [15F, 2M] who had cardiac affection. Their disease duration ranged from 6 months to 10 years while the range of SLEDAI score was 4-22 with a mean of 10.6 +/- 5.3. Group II included 8 females without cardiac affection. The range of disease duration was from 8 months to 6 years while SLEDAI score ranged from 4 to 21 with a mean of 11.1 +/- 6.02. There was a statistical significant difference between the 2 groups [p<0.05] as regards arthritis, fever and CNS symptoms that were present in 2 patients of group II only. Also there were significant differences between the two groups [p<0.05] as regards the ESR, anti-DNA and lupus anticoagulant. But lipograms did not show any statistical difference between both groups [p>0.05]. There was a direct correlation between pericarditis and disease activity and anti-DNA titer, as well as a significant positive correlation between valvular affection and lupus anticoagulants but a negative correlation between systolic function and activity as well as anti-DNA titer. Lastly, no significant correlation was found between cardiac involvement and the duration of the disease or duration of steroid therapy used or with lipograms. So Doppler-Echocardiography was helpful in showing that cardiac involvement was frequent in SLE patients especially during disease activity. Again, lupus anticoagulant [LAC] is common is SLE with cardiac involvement. So cardiovascular system must be investigated well especially in patients with positive LAC for the importance of planning therapy and assessment of prognosis