A Cross Sectional Study on Cardiovascular Manifestations of Systemic Lupus Erythematosus at Tertiary Care Center

SLE is a systemic inflammatory condition which affects 0.1%-0.2% of the population, that can affect almost any organ system, mainly the skin, joints, kidneys, blood cells, heart, and nervous system. Its cardiovascular manifestation has variable course, ranging from indolent to fulminant. Mostly many patients are asymptomatic. SLE can affect the pericardium, myocardium, endocardium, valves and the coronary arteries. The patients with cardiac involvement are mostly asymptomatic.

This is a hospital based, single center cross-section study. This study includes known cases of SLE patients attending Rheumatology OPD, SLE patients admitted in various wards(medicine, rheumatology and nephrology) and newly diagnosed cases of SLE according to new ACR/EULAR criteria. Patients were assessed for cardiac symptoms and signs. ECG, CXR and ECHO was performed in all the patients.

Patients with clinical features of mixed connective tissue Disorders.

Out of 34 patients cardiovascular involvement seen in SLE was 52% (18 patients.) Of these, 29% (10 patients) had symptoms that could be attributed to the cardiovascular system. In this study, Hypertension is the most common presentation occurring in 17.1% (6 patients). Pericarditis was the next common finding present in 14.7% (5 patients), of which the majority were asymptomatic. Valvular abnormalities seen in 2 (5.8%)patients. Myocarditis was seen in 2.9% patients. Cardiomyopathy present in 2.9% patients.

Cardiovascular manifestation in SLE should be promptly screened as this may worsen the clinical course of patients and it is one of the causes of important cause of death in SLE patients. Hence SLE patients must be screened for cardiovascular manifestations frequently.