Systolic and diastolic heart function in SLE patients

Area of Science:

• Cardiology
• Rheumatology
• Echocardiography

Background:

• Cardiovascular pathology is a frequent complication in patients with systemic lupus erythematosus (SLE).
• Left ventricular (LV) diastolic dysfunction is a common, often subclinical, finding in SLE patients.
• Assessing cardiac function is vital for managing SLE patients and preventing cardiovascular events.

Purpose of the Study:

• To evaluate left ventricular (LV) systolic and diastolic function in SLE patients without clinically apparent heart disease.
• To determine the correlation between SLE duration, disease severity (SLEDAI), and the degree of LV diastolic dysfunction.
• To compare echocardiographic parameters between SLE patients and a healthy control group.

Main Methods:

• Pulsed Doppler echocardiography was used to assess LV systolic and diastolic function.
• SLE patients and age-matched healthy volunteers were included in the study.
• Echocardiographic measurements were compared between groups, and correlations with SLE duration and SLEDAI were analyzed.

Main Results:

• No significant differences in systolic function were observed, except for lower fractional shortening in SLE patients, particularly those with long disease duration (>10 years) or high SLEDAI (>6).
• SLE patients exhibited impaired diastolic function, evidenced by higher late diastolic velocity (A') and lower E'/A' ratios compared to controls.
• Longer disease duration and higher SLEDAI were associated with worse LV diastolic properties, including longer isovolumetric relaxation time and lower E/A and E'/A' ratios.

Conclusions:

• Subclinical left ventricular (LV) diastolic dysfunction is prevalent in SLE patients, particularly those with long-standing or active disease.
• Echocardiography can detect early signs of cardiac involvement in SLE, aiding in risk stratification and management.
• Monitoring diastolic function is recommended for SLE patients to mitigate cardiovascular complications.