Vascular disease in systemic lupus erythematosus

Athina Pyrpasopoulou1, Sofia Chatzimichailidou, Spyros Aslanidis

  • 12nd Propedeutic Department of Internal Medicine, Hippokration General Hospital, Konstantinoupoleos 49, 54643 Thessaloniki, Greece.

Autoimmune Diseases
|September 8, 2012
PubMed

Insights

Vascular disease significantly impacts systemic lupus erythematosus (SLE) patients, affecting quality of life and survival. This review details lupus vasculopathy prevalence, causes, and outcomes.

Area of Science:

  • Rheumatology
  • Cardiovascular Medicine
  • Immunology

Background:

  • Vascular disease is a major complication and comorbidity in systemic lupus erythematosus (SLE).
  • It significantly impairs patient quality of life and is the leading cause of mortality in SLE.
  • Understanding lupus-associated vasculopathy is crucial for patient management.

Purpose of the Study:

  • To provide a comprehensive overview of vasculopathy in SLE patients.
  • To describe the pathogenesis of different forms of lupus vasculopathy.
  • To analyze the impact of vasculopathy on disease severity and patient outcomes.

Main Methods:

  • Literature review focusing on prevalence, pathogenesis, and outcomes of SLE-related vascular disease.
  • Synthesis of current knowledge on various vasculopathic manifestations in lupus.
  • Analysis of disease severity and prognostic factors.

Main Results:

  • Overview of diverse vasculopathic presentations in SLE.
  • Detailed description of underlying pathogenetic mechanisms.
  • Correlation between vasculopathy, disease severity, and patient prognosis.

Conclusions:

  • Vascular disease is a critical determinant of morbidity and mortality in SLE.
  • Further research into pathogenesis and targeted therapies is warranted.
  • Effective management of vasculopathy is essential for improving SLE patient outcomes.

Related Concept Videos

Overview of Systemic Arteries01:11

Overview of Systemic Arteries

The human body is a complex, well-organized machine, and at the heart of its operations lies the circulatory system. This network of blood vessels, which includes systemic arteries, plays a vital role in maintaining life by transporting nutrients, oxygen, and waste products to and from cells throughout the body.
Systemic circulation is the part of the cardiovascular system that carries oxygenated blood away from the heart to the body's tissues and returns deoxygenated blood back to the heart.
Rheumatic Heart Disease II: Clinical Manifestations and Diagnostic Studies01:22

Rheumatic Heart Disease II: Clinical Manifestations and Diagnostic Studies

The key clinical manifestations of Rheumatic heart disease (RHD) include several distinct cardiac symptoms.Carditis, a hallmark of acute rheumatic fever, involves inflammation of the heart's endocardium, myocardium, and pericardium. Chronic RHD often results from recurrent episodes of carditis. Its symptoms include the following:Murmurs are caused by valvular damage, especially to the mitral and aortic valves. Mitral stenosis or regurgitation is common, with characteristic heart murmurs...
Assessment of the Cardiovascular System II: Inspection01:29

Assessment of the Cardiovascular System II: Inspection

Inspection is the initial step in assessing the cardiovascular system. It involves a detailed visual examination that provides crucial information about a patient's circulatory and cardiac health. This systematic process, conducted from head to toe, helps identify signs of cardiovascular conditions by observing physical appearance, skin and mucous membranes, jugular and carotid pulsations, chest symmetry, and the condition of the extremities.
Head and Neck
Rheumatic Heart Disease I: Introduction01:23

Rheumatic Heart Disease I: Introduction

Rheumatic heart disease or RHD is a chronic condition that results from rheumatic fever, causing permanent damage to the heart valves.Etiology and Risk FactorsIt primarily arises from rheumatic fever, an inflammatory disease that can develop after untreated or inadequately treated group A streptococcal (GAS) pharyngitis. Streptococcus spreads through direct contact with oral or respiratory secretions. While the bacteria are the causative agents, factors like malnutrition, overcrowding, poor...
Assessment of the Cardiovascular System III: Palpation01:27

Assessment of the Cardiovascular System III: Palpation

Palpation involves feeling the body to evaluate texture, size, consistency, and tenderness for assessing cardiovascular health. The following steps are organized in a head-to-toe order:
Jugular Venous Pressure (JVP) Measurement
Position the patient at a thirty- to forty-five-degree angle or in a semi-fowler's position. Look for the highest point of pulsation in the internal jugular vein and measure the vertical distance to the angle of Loius or sternal angle. A normal JVP is 3-4 cm above the...
Endocarditis II: Clinical Features of Infective Endocarditis01:25

Endocarditis II: Clinical Features of Infective Endocarditis

Endocarditis can present various clinical features depending on the causative organism and the patient's underlying health conditions. Initially, the clinical features of infective endocarditis develop gradually, presenting with nonspecific symptoms that can be easily mistaken for other illnesses.General SymptomsEarly symptoms of infective endocarditis are fever, chills, weakness, malaise, fatigue, and weight loss. These symptoms reflect the systemic nature of the infection and the body's...