Ann Arthritis Clin Rheumatol | Volume 2, Issue 1 | Review Article | Open Access
Mohammed Mahmoud Nussier1, Mohamed Elwan Sayed2* and Hosni Abd-El kareem Younus3
1Department of Internal Medicine, Al-Azhar University, Egypt
2Department of Rheumatology and Rehabilitation, Al-Azhar University, Egypt
3Al-Azhar University, Egypt
*Correspondance to: Mohamed Elwan Sayed
Fulltext PDFBackground and Study Aims: Systemic Lupus Erythematosus (SLE) is a systemic autoimmune disease that can affect any part of the body. Early detection and quantification of pathological changes are important for assessing the benefits of cardiopulmonary prevention in SLE management. The aim of the study is effect of SLE on cardiopulmonary system, and its early detection.
Methods: Fifty patients selected from those attending the outpatient clinics and inpatients, who admitted to Internal Medicine Department of Al-Azhar Assuit University Hospital, from May 2017 to May 2018, fulfilled the American College of Rheumatology (ACR) 1982 revised criteria for classification of SLE. All patients were subjected to complete history taking, clinical examination, routine investigations, transthoracic echo cardiography (Echo) and Computed Tomography (CT) of the chest. The damage was measured using the SLICC (Systemic Lupus International Collaborating Clinics)/ACR damage index (SDI). The disease flare was defined by the increase in the SLE Disease Activity Index (SLEDAI).
Results: The most common Echo finding was pericardial effusion seen in 20 patients (40%), followed by mitral regurgitation in 14 patients (28%), Mitral valve prolapse was seen in 13 patients (26%). The most common CT chest findings was ground glass opacity seen in 15 patients (30%) followed by pleural effusion seen in 14 patients (28%) and pleural thickening in 10 patients (20%). There was non-significant correlation between EF% and SLEDAI (p=0.95), but a negative significant correlation between disease duration and EF% (p=0.02).
Conclusion: All SLE patients even who clinically inactive disease should be screened for the presence of structural cardiac and chest abnormalities. Echocardiography and CT chest can be helpful as a noninvasive diagnostic tool for early detection of such abnormalities
Cardiac changes; Pulmonary changes; Systemic lupus erythematosus
Nussier MM, Sayed ME, Abd-El kareem Younus H. Cardiopulmonary Affection in Patients with Systemic Lupus Erythematosus. Ann Arthritis Clin Rheumatol. 2019; 2(1): 1011.