Silent Myocardial Impairment in Patients with New Onset Drug‐Naïve SLE: Early Detection 

In order to detect silent myocardial impairment in patients with systemic lupus erythematosus (SLE), cardiac magnetic resonance (CMR) imaging is used. However, echocardiography indicates when cardiac decompensation is present. In this study in Arthritis & Rheumatology, researchers aim to assess using CMR to find early warning signs of silent cardiac involvement, which could be important for earlier treatment. 

The three‐center prospective study included 50 patients with drug‐naïve new onset SLE, 60 patients with longstanding SLE, and 50 healthy subjects. Cardiac enzymes, the presence and size of regional myocardial fibrosis index‐late gadolinium enhancement, strain changes, and bi‐ventricular ejection fraction were analyzed but did not indicate cardiac impairment in the new onset group.  

High-tech #CMR could detect early cardiac issues in lupus patients, new research suggests https://t.co/CSViqRkeWy pic.twitter.com/3RkZCY3wcY

— ACC CV Quality (@ACCCVQuality) August 3, 2018

Results of the study indicated that drug‐naïve new onset SLE was likely to involve silent cardiac impairment, even in inactive sub‐groups; in addition, changes in the myocardium were related to the SLE stage and indicated the importance of early detection of myocardial involvement. 

“Native myocardial T1 values and ECV, rather than current clinical rheumatic and cardiac indices, could serve as early detection markers of myocardial injury before the presence of visual fibrosis and functional decompensation,” the researchers concluded. 

For more on SLE, check out an article on vaccination coverage in SLE patients. 

A study from China shows cardiac magnetic resonance (CMR) imaging can reveal signs of cardiac impairment in patients with newly diagnosed lupus, before any symptoms of chest discomfort. see Arthritis & Rheumatology https://t.co/8kl0X0E6oo

— BJC (@BrJCardiol) August 7, 2018

Source: Arthritis & Rheumatology