P4448Profile of cardiovascular involvement and its relationship with disease activity in systemic lupus erythematosus

Abstract

Abstract Introduction The cardiovascular system is affected in systemic lupus erythematosus (SLE) by the disease itself, the state of chronic inflammation and also by the side effects of the treatment given. Purpose To find the burden of cardiovascular involvement in SLE, to correlate cardiovascular manifestation with SLE disease activity (SLEDAI-2K) and damage [SLICC/ACR Damage Index (SDI)]. Methods Seventy-five consecutive SLE patients fulfilling SLICC criteria, aged between 15–55 years, with disease duration of <5 years, admitted to rheumatology ward, were included. Overlap syndromes, past history of cardiac disease, end stage renal disease, chronic liver disease and type 2 diabetes mellitus were excluded. Clinical examination, fasting serum lipid profile, electrocardiogram, 2D-Echocardiography, carotid intima media thickness (CIMT) and serum Troponin-I were used to assess the cardiovascular status of patients. Results In this cross-sectional study exploring cardiovascular disease burden in a cohort of SLE patients within 5 years of disease, we found the mean age of patients was 28.5±7.9 years with a male: female ratio of 1:14. Cardiovascular involvement was detected in 52% of patients. Raised systolic BP was detected in 42% and raised diastolic BP in 28% patients. ECG revealed sinus tachycardia in 32%. 2D-echocardiography revealed pericardial effusion in 14.66%, mitral valve involvement in 10.66% (7 had mitral regurgitation and one had mitral sclerosis). PAH and TR were observed in 5.33% and 6.66% of cases respectively. One case showed evidence of aortic sclerosis. Dilated cardiomyopathy was present in 2.66% of cases. In 2.66% of cases systolic dysfunction and diastolic dysfunction each was evident. No patient showed evidence of vegetations. Anti SS-A and anti nucleosome (30.7% each) were the most common antibodies found in SLE patients with cardiovascular involvement. Increased serum LDL, hypertriglyceridemia and low serum HDL was found in 29%, 47% and 51% of patients respectively. Sub clinical myocardial injury was absent in all our patients as evidenced by negative serum Troponin-I. The CIMT was within normal limits and comparable between patients with and without cardiovascular involvement. The mean SLEDAI-2K was 7.3±4.9 and mean SDI was 0.8±1.2. SLEDAI-2K and SDI were significantly higher in patients with cardiovascular involvement versus patients without cardiovascular involvement (p=0.002 and p=0.01 respectively). SLEDAI-2K and SDI vs cardiac involvement Conclusion Cardiovascular involvement is associated with high SLEDAI-2K and SDI. Presence of anti-SSA and anti-nucleosome antibodies may predispose to cardiovascular involvement. Pericardial effusion was the most common echocardiographic abnormality. Low HDL was the most common dyslipidemia. However,atherosclerosis is not evident in patients with SLE with disease duration less than 5 years.