Pericarditis is a common manifestation in Systemic Lupus Erythematosus (SLE) that reveals the disease in 10-40% of the cases. This effusion is usually a small one, non-compressive. The aim of our study was to determine the incidence of pericarditis in SLE patients in our department and its characteristics.

We retrospectively reviewed the records of sixty six patients (62 women and 4 men, 15 to 78 years of age) with a SLE followed at our department since 2003. The diagnosis of SLE was established according to criteria defined by the American Rheumatism Association

All our patients with pericarditis were asymptomatic, except one who presented a tamponade requiring surgical drainage. We divided our patients in two groups: – G1: patients without pericarditis (16 patients) and G2: patients with pericarditis (50 patients). There is no differences in age (mean age 34±4 vs. 37±5 years, p<0.5) and sex (female predominance in the 2 groups). Patients with pericardial effusion are more likely to have pericardial pain and active lupus, Systemic Lupus Erythematosus Disease Activity Index (SLEDAI) is more higher but not significantly in G2 compared to G1 (11.6±8 vs 9.8±7, p=0.4.). The pleurisy was present in 14% of patients in G1 vs 25% of patients in G2, p = 0.3. There is no difference in renal and neurological affection between the two groups. Serologically, the production of antinuclear antibodies and Antibodies to double-stranded DNA (anti-dsDNA is the most important finding in both groups, respectively: 78% in G1 vs 87.5% in G2, p=0.4 and 54% in G1 vs 62.5% in G2 p=0.6).There was no difference between both groups in other antibodies: anti-SSA/Ro, anti-SSB/La antigen and antiphospholipid. All patients received corticosteroids with regression of pericarditis

Pericarditis is the most studied cardiovascular manifestation of SLE. Echocardiography represents the standard method to investigate pericardial abnormalities and is able to demonstrate mild effusion or thickening of pericardial layers, therefore, should be performed periodically in SLE patients.