Cardiovascular and Pulmonary Manifestations of Systemic Lupus Erythematosus

Abstract

Systemic lupus erythematosus (SLE) is characterized by various clinical manifestations and immunologic abnormalities. Among clinical manifestations, cardiovascular and respiratory system involvement is increasingly recognized as critical for patients' prognosis.Heart involvement, most commonly presents with pericarditis. However, valvular disease and less often myocarditis may be detected.Accelerated atherosclerosis is currently considered as one of the most important co-morbidities of SLE with cardiovascular events being one of the leading causes of death at relatively young ages. Respiratory system involvement affects all anatomic structures of the lungs, pleura and pulmonary vasculature while its severity ranges from asymptomatic pleural disease to acute respiratory failure.The most common features include pleuritis, interstitial lung disease and pulmonary embolism on the background of antiphospholipid syndrome. Less usual complications include lupus pneumonitis, diffuse alveolar hemorrhage, shrinking lung syndrome and pulmonary arterial hypertension.In this review, current knowledge concerning diagnosis, pathogenesis and treatment of the cardiac and pulmonary lupus manifestations is discussed.