Complementary role of cardiovascular imaging and laboratory indices in early detection of cardiovascular disease in systemic lupus erythematosus.
Background Cardiovascular disease (CVD) has been documented in >50% of systemic lupus erythematosus (SLE) patients, due to a complex interplay between traditional risk factors and SLE-related factors. Various processes, such as coronary artery disease, myocarditis, dilated cardiomyopathy, vasculitis, valvular heart disease, pulmonary hypertension and heart failure, account for CVD complications in SLE. Methods Electrocardiogram (ECG), echocardiography (echo), nuclear techniques, cardiac computed tomography (CT), cardiovascular magnetic resonance (CMR) and cardiac catheterization (CCa) can detect CVD in SLE at an early stage. ECG and echo are the cornerstones of CVD evaluation in SLE. The routine use of cardiac CT and nuclear techniques is limited by radiation exposure and use of iodinated contrast agents. Additionally, nuclear techniques are also limited by low spatial resolution that does not allow detection of sub-endocardial and sub-epicardial lesions. CCa gives definitive information about coronary artery anatomy and pulmonary artery pressure and offers the possibility of interventional therapy. However, it carries the risk of invasive instrumentation. Recently, CMR was proved of great value in the evaluation of cardiac function and the detection of myocardial inflammation, stress-rest perfusion defects and fibrosis. Results An algorithm for CVD evaluation in SLE includes clinical, laboratory, ECG and echo assessment as well as CMR evaluation in patients with inconclusive findings, persistent cardiac symptoms despite normal standard evaluation, new onset of life-threatening arrhythmia/heart failure and/or as a tool to select SLE patients for CCa. Conclusions A non-invasive approach including clinical, laboratory and imaging evaluation is key for early CVD detection in SLE.
1 Onassis Cardiac Surgery Center, Athens, Greece.
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Mavrogeni
2 Department of Pathophysiology, School of Medicine, University of Athens, Athens, Greece.
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Koutsogeorgopoulou
3 4th Department of Internal Medicine, School of Medicine, Aristotle University of Thessaloniki, Thessaloniki, Greece.
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Dimitroulas
1 Onassis Cardiac Surgery Center, Athens, Greece.
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Markousis-Mavrogenis
1 Onassis Cardiac Surgery Center, Athens, Greece.
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Kolovou
D006328:Cardiac Catheterization; D002318:Cardiovascular Diseases / Q000000981:diagnostic imaging*; D003287:Contrast Media / Q000009:adverse effects; D017023:Coronary Angiography; D003331:Coronary Vessels / Q000000981:diagnostic imaging; D042241:Early Diagnosis; D004452:Echocardiography; D004562:Electrocardiography; D006801:Humans; D008180:Lupus Erythematosus, Systemic / Q000150:complications*; D018810:Magnetic Resonance Angiography; D008279:Magnetic Resonance Imaging; D000072078:Positron Emission Tomography Computed Tomography; D012307:Risk Factors
D003287:Contrast Media
ECG; Systemic lupus erythematosus; cardiac catheterization; cardiovascular magnetic resonance imaging; coronary artery disease; echocardiography; endocarditis; heart failure; multislice computed tomography; myocarditis; nuclear cardiology; pulmonary hypertension; vasculitis