Cardiology Medical News about SLE;myocardial tissue characterization

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Myocardial tissue characterization in systemic lupus erythematosus: Value of a comprehensive cardiovascular magnetic resonance approach
Lupus, 06/12/08

Abdel-Aty H et al. - An imaging approach combining T2-weighted, early and late enhancement imaging is a useful tool to assess possible myocardial involvement in systemic lupus erythematosus (SLE). Cardiovascular magnetic resonance (CMR) parameters correlate well with disease activity, but not with usual clinical signs as summarized in a cardiac score.

Methods

Aim was to investigate the utility of a comprehensive CMR approach to assess myocardial involvement
And also to determine its relation to disease activity in SLE pts
20 SLE pts and 13 healthy volunteers were enrolled
Classification followed the criteria of ACR and European Consensus Lupus Activity Measurement index
CMR was performed on a 1.5T scanner and included the following sequences: steady-state free precession, T2-weighted, early and late T1-weighted after gadolinium-DTPA injection

Results

Ejection fraction was not different between groups
In contrast, relative T2 ratio was higher in active SLE than in the other groups
Similarly, early enhancement ratio was higher in active SLE
Both relative T2 and early enhancement ratios correlated with disease activity
Intramural foci of late enhancement were observed in 3/8 pts
Of the 5 pts with no late enhancement, only 1 had active disease

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