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Left ventricular function in patients with stable systemic lupus erythematosus
1First Department of Internal Medicine, Faculty of Medicine, Kyushu University, Fukuoka, Japan.
Insights
Systemic lupus erythematosus (SLE) patients exhibit impaired left ventricular diastolic function compared to healthy individuals. This diastolic dysfunction worsens with age, while systolic function remains unaffected in stable SLE.
Area of Science:
- Cardiology
- Rheumatology
- Medical Imaging
Background:
- Systemic lupus erythematosus (SLE) is a chronic autoimmune disease with potential cardiovascular implications.
- Left ventricular (LV) function is crucial for overall cardiovascular health.
- Understanding subclinical cardiac changes in SLE is vital for patient management.
Purpose of the Study:
- To compare left ventricular (LV) systolic and diastolic function in female patients with stable SLE versus healthy controls.
- To investigate the impact of age on LV function in SLE patients.
Main Methods:
- Echocardiography was employed to assess LV function in 43 female SLE patients and 93 healthy females across three age groups.
- Key parameters included left ventricular ejection fraction (systolic function) and diastolic descent rate of the anterior mitral leaflet (DDR), D/S ratio, and A/E ratio (diastolic function).
Main Results:
- No significant difference in left ventricular ejection fraction (systolic function) was observed between SLE patients and healthy controls.
- Significant differences in diastolic function indices (DDR, D/S ratio, A/E ratio) were found in SLE patients compared to controls.
- Diastolic dysfunction appeared to progressively worsen with increasing age in SLE patients.
Conclusions:
- Patients with stable systemic lupus erythematosus demonstrate impaired left ventricular diastolic function compared to healthy individuals.
- Left ventricular systolic function remains preserved in stable SLE.
- Age is a significant factor in the progression of diastolic dysfunction in SLE patients.
Abstract:
Echocardiography was used to compare the left ventricular function of 43 female patients with stable systemic lupus erythematosus with 93 healthy females in 3 age groups. Left ventricular systolic function was evaluated by the left ventricular ejection fraction and left ventricular diastolic function was evaluated by the diastolic descent rate of the anterior mitral leaflet (DDR), the ratio of mean systolic velocity to mean diastolic velocity in the left ventricular posterior wall (D/S ratio) and the ratio of peak mitral inflow velocity during the atrial filling period to that in the early filling period (A/E ratio). The left ventricular ejection fraction was not significantly different between patients and normal subjects. However, left ventricular diastolic function evaluated by these indexes in patients was different from normal subjects. These data suggest that left ventricular diastolic function is lower in patients with stable systemic lupus erythematosus than in normal subjects. It appears to deteriorate progressively with age. However, left ventricular systolic function remains normal.