الفهرس 
Systemic Lupus ErythematosusOnly 14 pages are availabe for public view
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Abstract
Abstract
Introduction: Systemic lupus erythematosus is a systemic autoimmune and inflammatory disease, characterized by overproduction of autoantibodies and formation of immune complexes. Their deposition in tissues and blood vessels results in inflammatory organ impairment. Cardiovascular diseases are one of the most important causes of disability and mortality in patients with SLE. The traditional risk factors are of importance for the development of CVD in lupus. However, lupus-related factors are equally or even more important.
Objective: To assess the cardiovascular affection in Egyptian patients with systemic lupus erythematosus and its relation to variable disease parameters.
Methods: Our study included 60 SLE patients, in addition to 30 apparently healthy individuals -age and sex matched. All patients were subjected to full clinical evaluation. Assessment of SLE activity, organ damage and cardiovascular risk factors. Full laboratory assessment, transthoracic echocardiography and carotid duplex were done for all patients and control subjects.
Results: SLE patients age ranges from 19 – 44 years with mean 32.3±7.6 years. SLE group showed pericardial effusion in 12 (20%) patients. Diastolic dysfunction was present in 26 (43%). Ejection fraction for all patients ranging from 50 to 72 % with mean 63.4±5.1 %. Mitral regurge was found in 16 (26%), while tricuspid regurge was found in 34 (56%) patients. None of the patients showed valve thickening or stenosis. Eight (13.3%) patients showed increase in pulmonary artery pressure. Regional wall motion abnormality (RWMA) was found in 2 patients in the form of hypokinesia. Left ventricular hypertrophy was found in three (5%) patients and one patient showed evidence of myocarditis. Patients with and carotid abnormalities shows significantly higher age, BMI duration of SLE, TIAs frequency, cerebrovascular accidents, damage Index, TGA, FBG, steroid duration of treatment and cumulative dose and lower C3 in comparison to patients without carotid abnormalities. Duration of SLE significantly increases the risk of echocardiographic and carotid abnormalities.
Conclusion: We have confirmed that, Egyptian patients with SLE suffer a high prevalence of cardiovascular diseases -including atherosclerotic vascular involvement and different cardiac abnormalities including pericardial, myocardial and endocardial involvement, in addition to elevated pulmonary artery pressure-compared to general population. Our study provides evidence that traditional CV factors, including age, BMI, high levels of triglycerides and blood sugar are associated with CVD, furthermore SLE-related factors such as a longer disease duration, cumulative dose and duration of glucocorticoid use and low complement 3 levels were also found to be associated with CVD.
Keywords: CIMT: Carotid intima media thickness; CVD :Cardiovascular disease; SLE : Systemic lupus erythematosus.