title: Clinical characteristics of lupus myocarditis in Korea.
abstract: Clinically important myocarditis is an unusual feature in systemic lupus erythematosus (SLE). We describe the clinical characteristics, management and outcomes of five SLE patients who developed severe left ventricular dysfunction. Four patients were female with mean age of 36.4 years. Three patients had both lupus myocarditis and lupus nephritis. Four patients had raised anti-dsDNA antibody titer and low complement level and two patients had positive IgG anticardiolipin antibody. Three patients were treated by high-dose corticosteroids, one patient by intravenous pulse methylprednisolone, and one patient by intravenous immunoglobulin and pulse cyclophosphamide with high dose corticosteroids. Left ventricular function improved markedly in four patients and all of them had no recurrence of lupus myocarditis up to follow-up of 33 months. However, one patient, who showed no improvement of left ventricular function, was expired due to sudden cardiac arrest. Lupus myocarditis should be treated by immunosuppressive therapy with high-dose corticosteroids and mostly the prognosis might be good with early treatment.
authors.affiliation: Department of Allergy and Rheumatology, Ajou University School of Medicine, Suwon, South Korea.
authors.forename: Jae-Wook
authors.initials: JW
authors.lastname: Chung
authors.forename: Dai-Yeol
authors.initials: DY
authors.lastname: Joe
authors.forename: Han-Jung
authors.initials: HJ
authors.lastname: Park
authors.forename: Hyoun-Ah
authors.initials: HA
authors.lastname: Kim
authors.forename: Hae-Sim
authors.initials: HS
authors.lastname: Park
authors.forename: Chang-Hee
authors.initials: CH
authors.lastname: Suh
mesh_terms: D000305:Adrenal Cortex Hormones / Q000008:administration & dosage / Q000627:therapeutic use; D000328:Adult; D003520:Cyclophosphamide / Q000008:administration & dosage / Q000627:therapeutic use; D016757:Death, Sudden, Cardiac; D004305:Dose-Response Relationship, Drug; D005260:Female; D005500:Follow-Up Studies; D006801:Humans; D016756:Immunoglobulins, Intravenous / Q000008:administration & dosage / Q000627:therapeutic use; D007166:Immunosuppressive Agents / Q000627:therapeutic use*; D007723:Korea; D008180:Lupus Erythematosus, Systemic / Q000188:drug therapy*; D008181:Lupus Nephritis / Q000188:drug therapy*; D008297:Male; D008775:Methylprednisolone / Q000008:administration & dosage / Q000627:therapeutic use; D008875:Middle Aged; D009205:Myocarditis / Q000188:drug therapy*; D013997:Time Factors; D016896:Treatment Outcome; D018487:Ventricular Dysfunction, Left / Q000188:drug therapy*; D055815:Young Adult
chemical_list: D000305:Adrenal Cortex Hormones; D016756:Immunoglobulins, Intravenous; D007166:Immunosuppressive Agents; D003520:Cyclophosphamide; D008775:Methylprednisolone