Related Experiment Video
Updated: Feb 2, 2026
Dermoscopy Aids in the Diagnosis of Discoid Lupus Erythematosus
Published on: May 16, 2025
Cardiac manifestations of Han Chinese patients with systemic lupus erythematosus: a retrospective study
Ertao Jia1, Hongling Geng2, Qingping Liu3
1The Department of Rheumatology, Shenzhen Traditional Chinese Medicine Hospital, The Fourth Clinical Medical College of Guangzhou University of Chinese Medicine, No. 1, Fuhua Road, Futian District, Shenzhen, 518033, Guangdong, China. sailing1980@126.com.
Insights
Cardiac involvement is common in Han Chinese patients with systemic lupus erythematosus (SLE), affecting nearly half of those studied. Pulmonary arterial hypertension and myocarditis are identified as key risk factors for mortality in SLE patients.
Area of Science:
- Rheumatology
- Cardiology
- Internal Medicine
Background:
- Systemic lupus erythematosus (SLE) is a chronic autoimmune disease with diverse clinical manifestations.
- Cardiac involvement is a significant concern in SLE patients, impacting prognosis and quality of life.
Purpose of the Study:
- To investigate the prevalence of cardiac manifestations in Han Chinese patients with SLE.
- To identify risk factors associated with cardiac diseases and mortality in this population.
Main Methods:
- A cohort of 750 Han Chinese patients with SLE was analyzed.
- Patients were categorized based on the presence or absence of cardiac manifestations.
- Cardiac conditions including pericarditis, myocarditis, heart valve disease, arrhythmia, cardiovascular diseases (CVD), and pulmonary arterial hypertension (PAH) were assessed.
Main Results:
- Nearly half (45.20%) of SLE patients exhibited one or more cardiac manifestations.
- The incidence of pericarditis, heart valve disease, arrhythmia, and PAH correlated positively with age.
- Arrhythmia, CVD, and PAH were associated with SLE disease activity (SLEDAI).
Conclusions:
- Cardiac involvement is prevalent in Han Chinese SLE patients and linked to age and disease activity.
- Pulmonary arterial hypertension and myocarditis are significant risk factors for mortality in SLE patients, particularly within the first 10 years of disease duration.
Objective:
To investigate cardiac manifestations and the risk factors in Han Chinese patients with systemic lupus erythematosus (SLE).
Methods:
Seven hundred fifty SLE patients who were hospitalized at our department were recruited in the present study. The patients were divided into two groups-those with or without cardiac manifestations. Cardiac manifestations in those SLE patients, such as pericarditis, myocarditis, heart valve disease, arrhythmia, were analyzed. The risk and protective factors of cardiac diseases in patients with SLE, as well as the predictors of mortality, were assessed, respectively.
Results:
In all 750 SLE patients, there were 339 (45.20%) patients suffered from one or more cardiac manifestations, involving pericarditis in 9.5%, myocarditis in 5.7%, heart valve disease in 15.6%, arrhythmia in 16.67%, and cardiovascular diseases (CVD) in 14%. 15.7% of SLE patients were accompanied with pulmonary arterial hypertension (PAH), of which 13.7% were mild, 1.2% were moderate, and 0.8% were severe. No significant differences were found between the two groups in age, disease duration, gender, antibody, and Systemic Lupus Erythematosus Disease Activity Index (SLEDAI). The incidence of pericarditis, heart valve disease, arrhythmia, and PAH was positively correlated with age. The incidence of arrhythmia, CVD, and PAH was correlated with SLEDAI. PAH and myocarditis were the risk factors of mortality in SLE patients with disease duration ≤ 10 years (P = 0.034 and 0.001, respectively).
Conclusion:
Cardiac involvement is common in Han Chinese SLE patients and associated with age and disease activity. PAH and myocarditis are the risk factors of mortality in SLE.
Related Concept Videos
01:21Aneurysm II: Clinical Manifestations and Diagnostic Studies
01:30Hypertension III: Clinical Manifestations and Diagnostic Studies
01:20Venous Thrombosis II: Clinical Manifestations and Diagnostic Studies
01:22Rheumatic Heart Disease II: Clinical Manifestations and Diagnostic Studies
01:28Peptic Ulcer Disease III: Clinical Manifestations and Diagnostic Studies
Few clinical manifestations differentiate gastric ulcers from duodenal ulcers. Distinctions in the location, timing, and pain relief are crucial for healthcare providers in differentiating between gastric and duodenal ulcers during clinical assessments.
01:20Blood Studies for Cardiovascular System I: Cardiac Biomarkers
The essential diagnostic tools for detecting myocardial necrosis and monitoring individuals suspected of having acute coronary syndrome (ACS) include:
Troponins
Troponins, particularly cardiac troponins I and T, are the most precise and sensitive markers of myocardial injury. They are detectable within 4-6 hours of myocardial injury and remain...