Pulmonary arterial hypertension responsive to immunosuppressive therapy in systemic lupus erythematosus.
Two female patients with recent diagnosis of systemic lupus erythematosus (SLE) are reported. Pulmonary arterial hypertension was diagnosed by Doppler echocardiography. Immunosuppressive therapy was started at the time of diagnosis of SLE. After 2 months of therapy, Doppler echocardiography was repeated and the estimated pulmonary artery systolic pressure was substantially decreased from 78 to 42 mmHg and from 67 to 42 mmHg, respectively, along with significant improvement of the clinical conditions.
Morelli
S
S
Istituto di I Clinica Medica, University of Rome La Sapienza, Andrea Cesalpino Foundation, Italy.
Giordano
M
M
De Marzio
P
P
Priori
R
R
Sgreccia
A
A
Valesini
G
G
D000328:Adult; D001794:Blood Pressure / Q000187:drug effects; D016572:Cyclosporine / Q000627:therapeutic use; D003907:Dexamethasone / Q000627:therapeutic use; D004359:Drug Therapy, Combination; D015150:Echocardiography, Doppler; D005260:Female; D005448:Fluocortolone / Q000627:therapeutic use; D006801:Humans; D006976:Hypertension, Pulmonary / Q000000981:diagnostic imaging / Q000188:drug therapy* / Q000209:etiology*; D007166:Immunosuppressive Agents / Q000627:therapeutic use*; D008180:Lupus Erythematosus, Systemic / Q000150:complications*; D008727:Methotrexate / Q000627:therapeutic use; D011651:Pulmonary Artery / Q000503:physiopathology
D007166:Immunosuppressive Agents; D005448:Fluocortolone; D003907:Dexamethasone; D016572:Cyclosporine; D008727:Methotrexate