Cardiac manifestations of Han Chinese patients with systemic lupus erythematosus: a retrospective study

Ertao Jia,Luhe Zhang,Min Xiao,Xia Qiu,Hongling Geng,Li Zhong,Jingjing Xie,Yuya Xiao,Jianyong Zhang,Yanying Zhang,Qingping Liu

doi:10.1007/s11845-018-1934-7

Abstract

ObjectiveTo investigate cardiac manifestations and the risk factors in Han Chinese patients with systemic lupus erythematosus (SLE).MethodsSeven 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.ResultsIn 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).ConclusionCardiac 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.

Highlights

systemic lupus erythematosus (SLE) is an autoimmune disease characterized by multiorgan manifestations, such as skin rash, arthralgias, ulcer, baldness, and autoimmune disorders
In all 750 SLE patients, there were 339 (45.20%) patients suffered from one or more cardiac manifestations, involving pericarditis in 9.5% (n = 71), myocarditis in 5.7% (n = 43), heart valve disease in 15.6% (n = 117), arrhythmia in 16.67% (n = 125), and cardiovascular diseases (CVD) in 14% (n = 105). 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
Age was the predictive factor of pericarditis and arrhythmia (P = 0.011, 0.027; OR 0.975, 0.984; 95% CI, 0.956–0.994, 0.969–0.998, respectively); it was the risk factor of the heart valve disease (P = 0.023; OR1.023; 95% CI, 1.009– 1.038)

Summary

Introduction

SLE is an autoimmune disease characterized by multiorgan manifestations, such as skin rash, arthralgias, ulcer, baldness, and autoimmune disorders. There were regional and racial differences in cardiac manifestations and related risk factors in patients with SLE [6]. Cardiac manifestations and their risk predictors in Han Chinese SLE patients were explored in our study.

Results

Conclusion