Myocardial perfusion in women with systemic lupus erythomatosus and no symptoms of coronary artery disease.
BACKGROUND
The aim of the study was to assess myocardial perfusion in women with systemic lupus erythomatosus (SLE) and no symptoms of coronary artery disease (CAD).


METHODS
Twenty two women with SLE of mean age 40.5 +/- 7.2 were enrolled in the study. The average duration time of the disease was from 2 to 19 years, mean 8 +/- 4.6 years. The inclusion criterion was the absence of stenocardial symptoms. The myocardial perfusion was studied by using Single Photon Emission Computerized Tomography (SPECT) utilising (99m)Tc-MIBI and a triple-head gamma-camera. We also analyzed risk factors of heart ischemic disease in our group.


RESULTS
Myocardial perfusion stress scanning showed abnormal perfusion in 12 patients, 54.5% of the whole group, mostly in the anterior wall. At rest hypoperfusion abnormalities were found in 7 individuals. In patients with positive myocardial perfusion, out scanning, risk factors of CAD were more pronounced than in a sub-group with a negative result of myocardial perfusion scanning.


CONCLUSIONS
In young women with SLE and no symptoms of coronary artery disease, myocardial perfusion defects may be detected by means of myocardial perfusion scintigraphy. Exercise and resting electrocardiography tests could be not sufficient for CAD diagnosis in women with SLE. The presence of coronary artery disease risk factors in women with SLE could be an indication to perform myocardial perfusion SPECT scanning.
Czuszyńska
Zenobia
Z
Department of Family Medicine, Connective Tissue Diseases Outpatients, Medical University, Gdańsk, Poland.
Romanowicz
Grzegorz
G
D000328:Adult; D015897:Comorbidity; D003324:Coronary Artery Disease / Q000000981:diagnostic imaging* / Q000453:epidemiology*; D003331:Coronary Vessels / Q000000981:diagnostic imaging*; D005080:Exercise Test; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D008180:Lupus Erythematosus, Systemic / Q000000981:diagnostic imaging* / Q000453:epidemiology*; D011044:Poland / Q000453:epidemiology; D015995:Prevalence; D011877:Radionuclide Imaging; D019275:Radiopharmaceuticals; D015203:Reproducibility of Results; D018570:Risk Assessment / Q000379:methods*; D012307:Risk Factors; D012680:Sensitivity and Specificity; D017256:Technetium Tc 99m Sestamibi
D019275:Radiopharmaceuticals; D017256:Technetium Tc 99m Sestamibi