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Cardiac tamponade in systemic lupus erythematosus. Report of four cases

M B Castier1, E M Albuquerque, M E Menezes

  • 1Hospital Universitário Pedro Ernesto, Universidade Estadual do Rio de Janeiro, Rio de Janeiro, RJ, Brazil.

Arquivos Brasileiros De Cardiologia
|November 18, 2000
PubMed

Insights

Cardiac tamponade is a rare but serious complication of systemic lupus erythematosus. Prompt treatment with pericardiocentesis and corticosteroids leads to a favorable outcome in these patients.

Area of Science:

  • Rheumatology
  • Cardiology
  • Internal Medicine

Background:

  • Systemic lupus erythematosus (SLE) can present with diverse cardiac manifestations.
  • Cardiac tamponade, a potentially life-threatening condition, requires careful evaluation in SLE patients.

Observation:

  • Pericardial effusions were found in 33.2% of SLE patients, with 54% occurring during active disease phases.
  • Cardiac tamponade was diagnosed in only 1.23% of SLE patients via clinical assessment and echocardiography.
  • Affected patients were predominantly female, white, and aged 25-44, with hemorrhagic effusions positive for antinuclear antibodies (FAN) and LE cells.

Findings:

  • Pericardiocentesis combined with high-dose corticosteroids proved effective in treating cardiac tamponade.
  • No recurrence of pericardial effusion or progression to constrictive pericarditis was observed during a 3-year follow-up.

Implications:

  • Cardiac tamponade in SLE, though infrequent, demonstrates a benign clinical course with appropriate management.
  • Early diagnosis and intervention are crucial for favorable outcomes in SLE-associated cardiac tamponade.
Abstract

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