[Left ventricular filling in young patients with systemic lupus erythematosus in stable phase].
OBJECTIVE
The aim of this study was to evaluate the left ventricle filling pattern in patients with stable systemic lupus erythematosus (SLE).


METHODS
This prospective study was performed in 22 healthy controls and in 24 patients with stable SLE. These two groups were submitted to a clinical, electrocardiographic and echocardiographic evaluation.


RESULTS
Gender distribution and mean age were similar in both groups (p = NS). Patients with SLE were more symptomatic (21%) than control patients (0%) (p < 0.01). Left ventricular dimensions, wall thickness, and systolic function were not significantly different between the two groups. However, pericardial effusion was more frequently found in patients with SLE (21%) when compared to the control group (0%) (p < 0.05). When compared to the control group, patients with SLE showed an abnormal left ventricular filling pattern. Peak late mitral flow velocity was 0.45 +/- 0.2 m/sec in SLE patients and 0.36 +/- 0.1 m/sec in the control group (p = 0.001).


CONCLUSIONS
These results demonstrate that patients with stable SLE, when compared to healthy controls, are frequently associated with cardiovascular symptoms, asymptomatic pericardial effusion, and an abnormal left ventricular filling pattern.
Gonçalves
L M
LM
Cadeira de Cardiologia (Medicina II), Faculdade de Medicina, Universidade de Coimbra (FMUC).
Ribeiro
J
J
Isaac
J
J
Monteiro
A
A
Porto
A
A
Providência
L A
LA
D000328:Adult; D015150:Echocardiography, Doppler; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D008180:Lupus Erythematosus, Systemic / Q000150:complications / Q000503:physiopathology*; D008297:Male; D011446:Prospective Studies; D018487:Ventricular Dysfunction, Left / Q000503:physiopathology*