Echocardiographic assessment of systolic dysfunction in asymptomatic systemic lupus erythematosus (SLE) patients

Introduction Cardiac disease is common among patients with systemic lupus erythematosus (SLE) even when clinically asymptomatic but diastolic dysfunction remains infrequently reported. Objective The aim of our study was to assess diastolic left ventricular dysfunction at a subclinical stage and to compare the obtained results with a control population. Methods We conducted a prospective study over a period of seven years from 2008 to 2015 in the adult cardiology department of La Rabta Hospital. Thirty consecutive SLE patients without evidence of cardiac disease (group A) were enrolled, and were compared with 30 age-matched healthy control subjects (group B). Results The average age of our patients was 41 ± 8 years old. There were 25 women (83.33%) and 5 men (16.66%). All had normal LV systolic function. There were no statistically significant differences between SLE patients and controls in such parameters as: – peak early diastolic filling velocity (E) (90 ± 12 cm/s vs. 85 ± 10 cm/s); – the peak of teleastolic velocity A, (66 ± 9 cm/s) versus (60 ± 9 cm/s); – the Ratio of Peak Early to Late Diastolic Filling Velocity of Transmitral Flow E/A (1.32 ± 0.3 vs. 1.4 ± 0.4); – the E wave deceleration (181 ± 8ms vs. 200 ± 22 ms). Early diastolic mitral annular velocity (Ea) was decreased in lupus patients compared to controls (7 ± 0.5 cm/s vs. 11.5 ± 2.4 cm/s, P P P Conclusion Echocardiography seems to be an excellent non-invasive tool for early dectection of subclinical impaired diastolic cardiac function. So we suggest that patients with SLE, should better undergo an echocardiographic evaluation, and be followed periodically.