Acute lupus myocarditis: Clinical features and outcome

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Primary Outcome Assessment in a Pig Model of Acute Myocardial Infarction
14:19

Primary Outcome Assessment in a Pig Model of Acute Myocardial Infarction

Published on: October 14, 2016

S Appenzeller1, C A Pineau, A E Clarke

  • 1Divisions of Clinical Immunology/Allergy and Clinical Epidemiology, McGill University Health Centre, Canada.

Lupus
|April 12, 2011
PubMed

Insights

Systemic lupus erythematosus (SLE) can cause life-threatening myocarditis, leading to heart failure. Prompt treatment with immunosuppressants and cardiac support improves outcomes in most patients.

Area of Science:

  • Cardiology
  • Rheumatology
  • Immunology

Background:

  • Systemic lupus erythematosus (SLE) can manifest with cardiomyopathy, often due to myocarditis or hypertension.
  • Left ventricular dysfunction is a critical and potentially fatal presentation of SLE-related cardiomyopathy.

Observation:

  • This study reports three cases of left ventricular failure suggestive of myocarditis in SLE patients.
  • Patients presented with acute onset of significantly reduced left ventricular ejection fraction (LVEF).

Findings:

  • Treatment involved cardiac support, prednisone, and other immunosuppressive agents.
  • Two out of three patients showed improvement in symptoms and LVEF.

Implications:

  • Myocarditis is a rare but serious SLE complication requiring prompt diagnosis and management.
  • Aggressive immunosuppressive therapy and cardiac support can lead to favorable long-term outcomes for SLE patients with myocarditis.
Abstract

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