SLE myocarditis. Detection by Ga-67 citrate scintigraphy

Area of Science:

• Cardiology
• Nuclear Medicine
• Rheumatology

Background:

• Myocarditis can manifest with cardiac gallium-67 (Ga-67) uptake, but its association with systemic lupus erythematosus (SLE) is not well-documented.
• Systemic lupus erythematosus frequently affects the heart, yet specific imaging findings for lupus-induced myocarditis are scarce.

Observation:

• A patient with a history of SLE presented with new electrocardiogram (ECG) abnormalities and impaired left ventricular function.
• Ga-67 scintigraphy revealed significant global myocardial uptake in this patient.

Findings:

• The observed Ga-67 uptake in the myocardium was attributed to active myocarditis in the context of SLE.
• Extensive investigations ruled out other common causes of cardiac dysfunction and Ga-67 uptake, such as myocardial infarction and viral infections.

Implications:

• This case suggests Ga-67 scintigraphy may be a valuable tool for diagnosing myocarditis in patients with systemic lupus erythematosus.
• Further research is warranted to establish the role of Ga-67 imaging in managing lupus-related cardiac involvement.