Lupus pericarditis is the most common type of heart disease affecting those with lupus. The trigger, it seems, is antigen-antibody complexes produced during active lupus. These antigen-antibody complexes, also known as immune complexes, can cause inflammation within the pericardium.
Is pericarditis related to lupus?
Pericarditis is the most common heart problem associated with active lupus and occurs in about 25% of people with SLE. The condition occurs when the pericardium—the thin membrane surrounding your heart—becomes swollen and irritated, causing it to leak fluid around the heart.
How common is pericarditis in lupus?
In systemic lupus erythematosus (SLE), cardiac manifestations are known to be present in up to 50% of patients. However, it is rare for acute pericarditis to be the leading symptom at the time of diagnosis of SLE occurring in up to 1% of patients.
What does lupus pericarditis feel like?
Symptoms can include chest pain, swelling, fatigue with exertion, or irregular heartbeat. Pericarditis is inflammation in the sac around the heart. Symptoms include chest pain and shortness of breath or pain with a deep breath.
Why does lupus cause pericarditis Related Questions
How do you treat lupus pericarditis?
Mild pericarditis in an SLE flare can be treated with intramuscular triamcinolone injection or oral methylprednisolone [32]. Severe pericarditis or pericardial tamponade should be treated with an intravenous bolus of methylprednisolone (initial dose usually 1 gram for three days) [7,16].
How do you know if lupus is affecting your heart?
What are the symptoms of heart conditions in lupus patients? Symptoms vary, depending on the individual conditions. They include rapid heartbeat associated with pericarditis or pericardial effusion, shortness of breath and heart palpitations for myocarditis, and abnormal heart rhythms.
What autoimmune disease causes pericarditis?
Examples of autoimmune diseases associated with pericarditis include systemic lupus erythematosus (SLE), rheumatoid arthritis (RA), and Beh√ßet’s disease. Autoinflammatory syndromes are rare and usually inherited. The most common in which pericarditis occurs is familial Mediterranean fever (FMF).
What are the symptoms of autoimmune pericarditis?
Cough. Fatigue or general feeling of weakness or being sick. Leg swelling. Low-grade fever. Pounding or racing heartbeat (heart palpitations) Shortness of breath when lying down. Swelling of the belly (abdomen)
What is the most common cardiac complication of lupus?
Pericarditis is the most common cardiac abnormality in systemic lupus erythematosus (SLE) patients, but lesions of the valves, myocardium and coronary vessels may all occur.
Which disease is associated with pericarditis?
The cause of pericarditis is often unknown, though viral infections are a common reason. Pericarditis may occur after a respiratory or digestive system infection. Chronic and recurring pericarditis may be caused by autoimmune disorders such as lupus, scleroderma and rheumatoid arthritis.
What does chest pain from lupus feel like?
The symptom of pleuritis that you may experience is severe, often sharp, stabbing pain in a specific area or areas of your chest. The pain, which is called pleurisy, is made worse when you take a deep breath, cough, sneeze, or laugh. You may also experience shortness of breath.
What syndrome is associated with pericarditis?
Dressler syndrome is inflammation of the sac surrounding the heart (pericarditis). It’s believed to occur as the result of the immune system responding to damage to heart tissue or damage to the sac around the heart (pericardium). The damage can result from a heart attack, surgery or traumatic injury.
What organ does lupus affect the most?
Kidneys About one half of people with lupus experience kidney involvement, and the kidney has become the most extensively studied organ affected by lupus.
Does pericarditis show up on EKG?
Review of the Data. How is acute pericarditis diagnosed? Acute pericarditis is a clinical diagnosis supported by EKG and echocardiogram. At least two of the following four criteria must be present for the diagnosis: pleuritic chest pain, pericardial rub, diffuse ST-segment elevation on EKG, and pericardial effusion.
What does the start of pericarditis feel like?
A common symptom of acute pericarditis is a sharp, stabbing chest pain, usually coming on quickly. It’s often is in the middle or left side of the chest, and there may be pain in one or both shoulders. Sitting up and leaning forward tends to ease the pain, while lying down and breathing deep worsens it.
Does hydroxychloroquine help pericarditis?
Acute pericarditis should be treated promptly with hydroxychloroquine, steroids and non-steroidal anti-inflammatory drugs to reduce the formation of pericardial adhesions and progression to CP. Recurrent pericarditis requires the addition of steroid-sparing agents, such as azathioprine and mycophenolate mofetil [11].
What is the life expectancy of a person with lupus?
With close follow-up and treatment, 80-90% of people with lupus can expect to live a normal life span. It is true that medical science has not yet developed a method for curing lupus, and some people do die from the disease. However, for the majority of people living with the disease today, it will not be fatal.
What are the symptoms of lupus myocarditis?
History of preceding viral illness. Fever. Chest pain. Joint pain or swelling. Abnormal heartbeat. Fatigue. Shortness of breath. Leg swelling.
Can an EKG detect lupus?
Overview. The most common and important ECG findings associated with systemic lupus erythematosus (SLE) include sinus tachycardia, ST segment changes, and ventricular conduction disturbances. Other ECG findings are related to late complications of SLE and may range based on the complication.
What does a cardiologist do for lupus?
Do I need to see a cardiologist? Not every person with lupus needs to see a cardiologist, but in some cases it is a good idea. A cardiologist may order special tests to see how well the heart is working. Together with the rheumatologist, they decide if you need any medicines to prevent or treat heart disease.