A swinging heart as complication of systemic lupus erythematosus.
Cardiac involvement is very common in patients with systemic lupus erythematosus since 30 to 50% of all patients suffer from some sort of heart disease (Lahita, Textbook of rheumatology, 1997). Pericarditis is the most common form of involvement and occurs in 19 to 48% of patients (Lahita, Textbook of rheumatology, 1997). Pleural and/or pericardial pain can occur in any phase of the disease; however, pericardial effusion leading to cardiac tamponade is rare (Lahita, Textbook of rheumatology, 1997; Lee et al., Journal of Korean Medical Science 12(1):75-77, 1997). We report such a case, illustrated by echocardiography.
Nabibux
Marita N
MN
Department of Internal Medicine, VU University Medical Center, Amsterdam, The Netherlands.
Dijkmans
Pieter A
PA
Dijkmans
Ben A C
BA
D000328:Adult; D002305:Cardiac Tamponade / Q000000981:diagnostic imaging / Q000209:etiology*; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D008180:Lupus Erythematosus, Systemic / Q000150:complications*; D010490:Pericardial Effusion / Q000000981:diagnostic imaging / Q000209:etiology*; D014463:Ultrasonography