Left Ventricular Function in Patients with Stable Systemic Lupus Erythematosus

Abstract

Echocardiography was used to compare the left ventricular function of 43 female patients with stable systemic lupus erythematosus with 93 healthy females in 3 age groups. Left ventricular systolic function was evaluated by the left ventricular ejection fraction and left ventricular diastolic function was evaluated by the diastolic descent rate of the anterior mitral leaflet (DDR), the ratio of mean systolic velocity to mean diastolic velocity in the left ventricular posterior wall (D/S ratio) and the ratio of peak mitral inflow velocity during the atrial filling period to that in the early filling period (A/E ratio). The left ventricular ejection fraction was not significantly different between patients and normal subjects. However, left ventricular diastolic function evaluated by these indexes in patients was different from normal subjects. These data suggest that left ventricular diastolic function is lower in patients with stable systemic lupus erythematosus than in normal subjects. It appears to deteriorate progressively with age. However, left ventricular systolic function remains normal.