Myocarditis in systemic lupus erythematosus - 02/09/11

Doi : 10.1016/S0002-9343(02)01223-8

Mevan Wijetunga, MD ^a,^⁎ , Stanley Rockson, MD ^b
^a Department of Medicine (MW), University of Hawaii, Honolulu, Hawaii, USA
^b Division of Cardiovascular Medicine (SR), Falk Cardiovascular Research Center, Stanford University School of Medicine, Stanford, California, USA

^*Requests for reprints should be addressed to Stanley Rockson, MD, Falk Cardiovascular Research Center, Stanford University School of Medicine, 300 Pasteur Drive, Stanford, California 94395-5406, USA

Abstract

Although clinical manifestations of myocarditis in systemic lupus erythematosus are uncommon, noninvasive cardiac testing may detect subclinical cases. The pathogenesis of myocarditis in systemic lupus erythematosus has been ascribed to many factors, including autoimmunity, medications, and coexisting diseases. Lupus myocarditis merits urgent clinical attention because of the likely progression to arrhythmias, conduction disturbances and heart block, dilated cardiomyopathy, and heart failure. Endomyocardial biopsy can be used to identify the underlying inflammatory histopathology. Usual therapy includes high-dose corticosteroids, in addition to standard cardiac medications.

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Keywords : Systemic lupus erythematosus, Myocarditis, Endomyocardial biopsy