Department of Cardiology, University Hospital Policlinico, Bari, Italy
Research
Early Echocardiographic Detection of Left Ventricular Diastolic
Dysfunction in Patients with Systemic Lupus Erythematosus
Asymptomatic for Cardiovascular Disease
Author(s): Patrizia Leone, Sebastiano Cicco, Marcella Prete, Nicola Susca, Lucilla Crudele, Alessio Buonavoglia, Paolo Colonna, Franco Dammacco*, Angelo Vacca and Vito Racanelli*
Cardiovascular disease (CVD) is a major complication of systemic lupus erythematosus (SLE) and is now a leading cause of death for these patients. In this study, 23 SLE patients asymptomatic for CVD underwent a comprehensive echocardiographic examination to detect subclinical cardiac involvement. According to their SELENA-SLEDAI score, they were divided into two groups: SELENA-SLEDAI ≤ 12 (n=13, 12 females) and SELENA-SLEDAI >12 (n=10, all females), indicative of mild to moderate and severe SLE, respectively. Patients in the latter group had significant increases in left ventricular (LV) mass, LV end-diastolic volume, left atrial volume and right heart parameters (pulmonary arterial pressure, tricuspid regurgitation velocity and diameter of the inferior cava) compared to the mild-moderate group. Diastolic dysfunction, evaluated as the early/late (E/A) and early/septal velocity (.. View More»
