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[Left ventricular filling in young patients with systemic lupus erythematosus in stable phase]
L M Gonçalves1, J Ribeiro, J Isaac
1Cadeira de Cardiologia (Medicina II), Faculdade de Medicina, Universidade de Coimbra (FMUC).
Objective:
The aim of this study was to evaluate the left ventricle filling pattern in patients with stable systemic lupus erythematosus (SLE).
Methods:
This prospective study was performed in 22 healthy controls and in 24 patients with stable SLE. These two groups were submitted to a clinical, electrocardiographic and echocardiographic evaluation.
Results:
Gender distribution and mean age were similar in both groups (p = NS). Patients with SLE were more symptomatic (21%) than control patients (0%) (p < 0.01). Left ventricular dimensions, wall thickness, and systolic function were not significantly different between the two groups. However, pericardial effusion was more frequently found in patients with SLE (21%) when compared to the control group (0%) (p < 0.05). When compared to the control group, patients with SLE showed an abnormal left ventricular filling pattern. Peak late mitral flow velocity was 0.45 +/- 0.2 m/sec in SLE patients and 0.36 +/- 0.1 m/sec in the control group (p = 0.001).
Conclusion:
These results demonstrate that patients with stable SLE, when compared to healthy controls, are frequently associated with cardiovascular symptoms, asymptomatic pericardial effusion, and an abnormal left ventricular filling pattern.