Frequency and Patterns of Cardiac Involvement in Systemic Lupus Erythematosus

Abstract

The aim of the study was to determine the prevalence of myocardial and circulatory complications among lupus patients, such as pericarditis, heart failure, endocarditis, ventricular dysfunction, and Myocarditis. It was also to assess the association of lupus with increased myocardial injury and to evaluate therapeutic (choriokinin, corticosteroids, and glucocorticoids) interventions to reduce the complication of cardiovascular disease. This study focused on the immunological aspect of the effect of immunosuppressive therapy in systemic lupus erythematous (SLE), specifically choriokinin, corticosteroids, and glucocorticoids (GCs), on the exposure of cardiovascular disease. The study period extended from 2022 to early 2024 and relied on the results of screening of 88 SLE patients and a control group of 85 patients. The causes of heart damage in SLE patients were identified to assess the relationship with disease activity, duration, and rheumatic treatment. Previously, we first determined N_terminal prohormone of brain natriuretic peptide (NT_proBNP) levels in SLE patients not receiving specific rheumatic treatment and identified a relationship between biomarker and immunological marker concentrations of SLE activity (increased serum levels of anticardiolipin IgG, anti_dsDNA, antinuclear antibodies, and decreased complement C4) and markers reflecting impaired kidney function (Nasonov, 2010, Kim, et al., 2017). Corticosteroids are effective in preventing the progression of SLE and increasing patient survival, while reducing the exposure of atherosclerosis and thrombosis (Nasonov, 2010, Tan, et al., 1982, Hochberg, 1997) and hypercholesterolemia (Kim, et al., 2017, Petri, et al., 2012), ultimately reducing a exposure of cardiovascular disease at SLE patients, despite isolated reports of cardiac toxicity (Hochberg, 1997). Noticed a statistical difference between the two groups in NT_proBNP, as it was shown that the second group had a lower NT_proBNP result 0.05 than the first group, and the same applies to Anti_JO1, which gives us evidence beyond doubt that immunosuppressive treatments work positively in treating heart muscle diseases resulting from lupus.