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Published on: February 17, 2018

A swinging heart as complication of systemic lupus erythematosus

Marita N Nabibux1, Pieter A Dijkmans, Ben A C Dijkmans

  • 1Department of Internal Medicine, VU University Medical Center, Amsterdam, The Netherlands.

Clinical Rheumatology
|June 13, 2006
PubMed

Insights

Systemic lupus erythematosus frequently affects the heart, with pericarditis being common. A rare case of cardiac tamponade due to pericardial effusion in lupus is presented, highlighting echocardiography

Area of Science:

  • Rheumatology
  • Cardiology
  • Internal Medicine

Background:

  • Systemic lupus erythematosus (SLE) commonly involves cardiac structures, affecting 30-50% of patients.
  • Pericarditis is the most frequent cardiac manifestation, occurring in 19-48% of individuals with SLE.

Observation:

  • While pleural and pericardial pain are seen in SLE, pericardial effusion leading to cardiac tamponade is a rare complication.
  • This report details a specific case of cardiac tamponade in a patient with SLE.

Findings:

  • The case illustrates the diagnostic utility of echocardiography in identifying pericardial effusion and cardiac tamponade in SLE patients.
  • Echocardiography confirmed the presence of pericardial effusion, a critical finding in this rare presentation.

Implications:

  • This case underscores the importance of considering rare but severe cardiac complications in SLE management.
  • Early diagnosis and intervention for cardiac tamponade are crucial for patient outcomes in SLE.
  • Echocardiography serves as a vital tool for the prompt evaluation of suspected cardiac involvement in lupus.

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