Myocardial involvement in 2494 patients with systemic lupus erythematosus / 中华心血管病杂志

ABSTRACT

<p><b>OBJECTIVE</b>To investigate the clinical characteristics and related pathogenetic factors in systemic lupus erythematosus (SLE) patients with myocardial involvement.</p><p><b>METHODS</b>Clinic data and myocardial involvements were analyzed in 2494 SLE patients who admitted to our hospital from 1997 to 2007.</p><p><b>RESULTS</b>Myocardial involvements were seen in 13 out of 2494 SLE patients (0.52%). Dyspnea of various degrees and left ventricular systolic dysfunction are frequently found in these patients with myocardial involvements. Glucocorticoid therapy significantly increased left ventricular ejection fraction (LVEF, 37.7% +/- 5.8% vs. 40.9% +/- 7.1%, P = 0.002). Significant associations were found between anti-rRNP antibody and LVEF (r = 0.843, P = 0.001) as well as between cardiac troponin I (cTnI) and left ventricular end diastolic diameter (LVEDD) (r = 0.656, P = 0.036).</p><p><b>CONCLUSIONS</b>Myocardium is rarely affected in patients with SLE in this cohort. Echocardiography is a valuable method for detecting cardiac abnormalities in patients with SLE. Glucocorticoid therapy could improve cardiac function in SLE patients with cardiac involvement and serological factors are related to cardiac functions.</p>