[Myocardial remodeling in systemic lupus erythematosus and systemic scleroderma]

Area of Science:

• Cardiology
• Rheumatology
• Internal Medicine

Background:

• Systemic lupus erythematosus (SLE) and scleroderma systematica (SDS) are connective tissue diseases that can affect the cardiovascular system.
• Myocardial remodeling and intracardiac hemodynamic disorders are potential complications in patients with SLE and SDS.

Purpose of the Study:

• To investigate the prevalence and characteristics of myocardial remodeling.
• To determine the association between the activity of inflammatory processes and myocardial remodeling in SLE and SDS.

Main Methods:

• Echocardiography was used to assess intracardiac hemodynamic parameters in 167 patients (102 with SLE, 65 with SDS).
• Disease activity was quantified using the Systemic Lupus Activity Measurement (SLAM) and European Consensus Lupus Activity Measurement (ECLAM) scales.

Main Results:

• Myocardial remodeling, including various geometric cardiac model types, was observed in patients with rheumatic diseases.
• In SLE, disease activity correlated with left ventricular (LV) hypertrophy and diastolic dysfunction (DD).
• In SDS, high disease activity was linked to LV hypertrophy, while disease duration influenced DD.

Conclusions:

• Myocardial remodeling and hemodynamic disturbances are present in SLE and SDS.
• The activity of the inflammatory process is associated with the development of these cardiac changes.