Cardiovascular magnetic resonance detects silent heart disease missed by echocardiography in systemic lupus erythematosus

The role of comprehensive stress cardiac MRI in autoimmune rheumatic disease: A review

Cardiovascular disease is the leading cause of morbidity and mortality in patients with autoimmune rheumatic diseases. Much of this may be attributed to systemic inflammation resulting in coronary atherosclerosis and myocarditis. Cardiac magnetic resonance imaging is the gold standard for the evaluation of cardiac structure and function, including tissue characterization, which allows for detection of myocardial edema, inflammation, and fibrosis. Advances in parametric mapping and coronary flow reserve measurement techniques have the potential to change the diagnosis, risk stratification, and management of patients with autoimmune rheumatic diseases. We provide an overview of the current evidence and suggest potential future roles for the use of comprehensive cardiac magnetic resonance in patients with autoimmune rheumatic diseases in the field of cardio-rheumatology.

Biomarkers in Systemic Lupus Erythematosus along with Metabolic Syndrome

Metabolic syndrome (MetS) is a group of physiological abnormalities characterized by obesity, insulin resistance (IR), and hypertriglyceridemia, which carry the risk of developing cardiovascular disease (CVD) and type 2 diabetes (T2D). Immune and metabolic alterations have been observed in MetS and are associated with autoimmune development. Systemic lupus erythematosus (SLE) is an autoimmune disease caused by a complex interaction of environmental, hormonal, and genetic factors and hyperactivation of immune cells. Patients with SLE have a high prevalence of MetS, in which elevated CVD is observed. Among the efforts of multidisciplinary healthcare teams to make an early diagnosis, a wide variety of factors have been considered and associated with the generation of biomarkers. This review aimed to elucidate some primary biomarkers and propose a set of assessments to improve the projection of the diagnosis and evolution of patients. These biomarkers include metabolic profiles, cytokines, cardiovascular tests, and microRNAs (miRs), which have been observed to be dysregulated in these patients and associated with outcomes.

Cardiovascular magnetic resonance (CMR) and positron emission tomography (PET) imaging in the diagnosis and follow-up of patients with acute myocarditis and chronic inflammatory cardiomyopathy : A review paper with practical recommendations on behalf of the European Society of Cardiovascular Radiology (ESCR)

Advanced cardiac imaging techniques such as cardiovascular magnetic resonance (CMR) and positron emission tomography (PET) are widely used in clinical practice in patients with acute myocarditis and chronic inflammatory cardiomyopathies (I-CMP). We aimed to provide a review article with practical recommendations from the European Society of Cardiovascular Radiology (ESCR), in order to guide physicians in the use and interpretation of CMR and PET in clinical practice both for acute myocarditis and follow-up in chronic forms of I-CMP.

Cardiac Involvement Due to COVID-19: Insights from Imaging and Histopathology

Lingering cardiac symptoms are increasingly recognised complications of severe acute respiratory syndrome coronavirus 2 infection, now referred to as post-acute cardiovascular sequelae of COVID-19 (PASC). In the acute phase, cardiac injury is driven by cytokine release and stems from ischaemic and thrombotic complications, resulting in myocardial necrosis. Patients with pre-existing cardiac conditions are particularly vulnerable. Myocarditis due to a direct viral infection is rare. Chronic symptoms relate to either worsening of pre-existing heart disease (PASC - cardiovascular disease) or delayed chronic inflammatory condition due to heterogenous immune dysregulation (PASC - cardiovascular syndrome), the latter affecting a broad segment of previously well people. Both PASC presentations are associated with increased cardiovascular risk, long-term disability and reduced quality of life. The recognition and management of PASC in clinical settings remains a considerable challenge. Sensitive diagnostic methods are needed to detect subtler inflammatory changes that underlie the persistent symptoms in PASC - cardiovascular syndrome, alongside considerable clinical experience in inflammatory cardiac conditions.

Cardiovascular magnetic resonance imaging in myocardial involvement of systemic lupus erythematosus

Systemic lupus erythematosus (SLE) is a chronic autoimmune disorder that primarily affects young women. Myocardial involvement in SLE frequently occurs and it is rather challenging to make the diagnosis in current clinical settings, mainly due to the extensive clinical presentation of signs and symptoms. As a noninvasive imaging reference in diagnosing cardiomyopathy and myocarditis, cardiovascular magnetic resonance (CMR) imaging can provide new insight into myocardial abnormalities including inflammation, fibrosis, and microcirculation. Therefore, the main aim of this work was to systematically review the pathology, clinical features, and diagnosis, while illustrating the clinical role of CMR on myocardial involvement of SLE.

Functional and Metabolic Imaging in Heart Failure with Preserved Ejection Fraction: Promises, Challenges, and Clinical Utility

Heart failure with preserved ejection fraction (HFpEF) is recognised as an increasingly prevalent, morbid and burdensome condition with a poor outlook. Recent advances in both the understanding of HFpEF and the technological ability to image cardiac function and metabolism in humans have simultaneously shone a light on the molecular basis of this complex condition of diastolic dysfunction, and the inflammatory and metabolic changes that are associated with it, typically in the context of a complex patient. This review both makes the case for an integrated assessment of the condition, and highlights that metabolic alteration may be a measurable outcome for novel targeted forms of medical therapy. It furthermore highlights how recent technological advancements and advanced medical imaging techniques have enabled the characterisation of the metabolism and function of HFpEF within patients, at rest and during exercise.

Cardiac involvement in systemic and local vasculitides: The value of non-invasive multimodality imaging

Despite significant advances in managing systemic vasculitides, cardiovascular morbidity and mortality are still of primary concern. Advances in non-invasive imaging have broadened our understanding of the clinical heterogeneity of cardiac involvement in vasculitides. Common cardiovascular complications in primary or secondary vasculitides are; coronary artery aneurysms, acute coronary syndromes, myocarditis, pericarditis, endocarditis, and valvular dysfunction. Echocardiography, cardiac magnetic resonance (CMR), positron emission tomography (PET), and CT angiography are essential in identifying cardiac involvement and guiding treatment. Here, we present our experiences of cardiac involvement in systemic vasculitides, covering most aspects of common cardiac complications based on a multi-modality approach to challenging (real-world) cases. As many cardiac manifestations are clinically silent, heart function should be systemically assessed by a multi-modality imaging-based approach, including ECG, serial echocardiograms with strain imaging and 3D, and CMR to detect early signs of cardiac manifestations. This enables timely intervention and optimal medical treatment, which is essential for a better prognosis. There is a need for better and closer collaboration in clinical practice and research fields between Cardiologists and Rheumatologists.

Multimodality imaging in acute myocarditis

The diagnosis of acute myocarditis often involves several noninvasive techniques that can provide information regarding volumes, ejection fraction, and tissue characterization. In particular, echocardiography is extremely helpful for the evaluation of biventricular volumes, strain and ejection fraction. Cardiac magnetic resonance, beyond biventricular volumes, strain, and ejection fraction allows to characterize myocardial tissue providing information regarding edema, hyperemia, and fibrosis. Contemporary cardiac computed tomography angiography (CCTA) can not only be extremely important for the assessment of coronary arteries, pulmonary arteries and aorta but also tissue characterization using CCTA can be an additional tool that can explain chest pain with a diagnosis of myocarditis.

Mechanistic insight into premature atherosclerosis and cardiovascular complications in systemic lupus erythematosus

Systemic lupus erythematosus (SLE) is associated with a significant risk of cardiovascular disease (CVD), which substantially increases disease mortality and morbidity. The overall mechanisms associated with the development of premature atherosclerosis and CVD in SLE remain unclear, but has been considered as a result of an intricate interplay between the profound immune dysregulation and traditional CVD risk factors. Aberrant systemic inflammation in SLE may lead to an abnormal lipid profile and dysfunction, which can further fuel the pro-atherosclerotic environment. The existence of a strong imbalance between endothelial damage and vascular repair/angiogenesis promotes vascular injury, which is the early step in the progression of atherosclerotic CVD. Profound innate and adaptive immune dysregulation, characterized by excessive type I interferon burden, aberrant macrophage, platelet and complements activation, neutrophil dysregulation and neutrophil extracellular traps formation, uncontrolled T cell activation, and excessive autoantibody production and immune complex formation, have been proposed to promote accelerated CVD in SLE. While designing targeted therapies to correct the dysregulated immune activation may be beneficial in the treatment of SLE-related CVD, much additional work is needed to determine how to translate these findings into clinical practice. Additionally, a number of biomarkers display diagnostic potentials in improving CVD risk stratification in SLE, further prospective studies will help understand which biomarker(s) will be the most impactful one(s) in assessing SLE-linked CVD. Continued efforts to identify novel mechanisms and to establish criteria for assessing CVD risk as well as predicting CVD progression are in great need to improve CVD outcomes in SLE.

TLR7 Activation Accelerates Cardiovascular Pathology in a Mouse Model of Lupus

We report a novel model of lupus-associated cardiovascular pathology accelerated by the TLR7 agonist R848 in lupus-prone B6.Sle1.Sle2.Sle3 (TC) mice. R848-treated TC mice but not non-autoimmune C57BL/6 (B6) controls developed microvascular inflammation and myocytolysis with intracellular vacuolization. This histopathology was similar to antibody-mediated rejection after heart transplant, although it did not involve complement. The TC or B6 recipients of serum or splenocytes from R848-treated TC mice developed a reactive cardiomyocyte hypertrophy, which also presents spontaneously in old TC mice as well as in TC.Rag-/- mice that lack B and T cells. Each of these cardiovascular lesions correspond to abnormalities that have been reported in lupus patients. Lymphoid and non-lymphoid immune cells as well as soluble factors contribute to lupus-associated cardiovascular lesions in TC mice, which can now be dissected using this model with and without R848 treatment.

Vascular Inflammation in Mouse Models of Systemic Lupus Erythematosus

Vascular inflammation mediated by overly activated immune cells is a significant cause of morbidity and mortality in systemic lupus erythematosus (SLE). Several mouse models to study the pathogenesis of SLE are currently in use, many of which have different mechanisms of pathogenesis. The diversity of these models allows interrogation of different aspects of the disease pathogenesis. To better determine the mechanisms by which vascular inflammation occurs in SLE, and to assist future researchers in choosing the most appropriate mouse models to study cardiovascular complications in SLE, we suggest that direct comparisons of vascular inflammation should be conducted among different murine SLE models. We also propose the use of in vitro vascular assays to further investigate vascular inflammation processes prevalent among different murine SLE models.

Characterization and clinical significance of biventricular mechanics in patients with systemic lupus erythematosus by 3T cardiovascular magnetic resonance tissue tracking

BACKGROUND

Detecting impaired left ventricle (LV) or right ventricle (RV) mechanics could aid in fully understanding the process of cardiac involvement in patients with systemic lupus erythematosus (SLE). This study aimed to evaluate biventricular strain parameters derived from cardiac magnetic resonance (CMR) tissue tracking in SLE patients and their association with other clinical variables.

METHODS

A group of 47 SLE patients and 27 healthy controls were enrolled and underwent CMR examination, including cine and late gadolinium enhancement (LGE) imaging. Aside from RV strain parameters in the radial direction, biventricular global peak strain and peak systolic/diastolic global strain rate in radial, circumferential, and longitudinal directions were assessed for each participant. Multivariate linear regression analysis was used to analyze the factors related to the biventricular strain parameters. Receiver operating characteristic (ROC) analysis was used to identify RV dysfunction.

RESULTS

Compared with the controls, part of the biventricular strain parameters in the SLE subgroup with preserved ejection fraction (EF) were impaired, which was more significant in the SLE subgroup with reduced EF (all P<0.05). The SLE patients with RV dysfunction (15/47) included patients with LV dysfunction (8/47). The RVEF was associated with impaired LV global peak strain and peak diastolic strain rate in the SLE patients (absolute value of β=0.406-0.715, all P<0.05). The LV LGE in SLE patients (12/47) was associated with LV global longitudinal peak strain and peak diastolic global longitudinal strain rate (β=0.378 and -0.342; all P<0.05). There were independent correlations between pulmonary arterial hypertension and RV global longitudinal peak strain, anti-ribonucleoprotein (RNP) antibody and RV global circumferential peak strain, and pericardial effusion and RV peak diastolic global circumferential strain rate, respectively (β=0.319, 0.359, and -0.285, respectively; all P<0.05). The LV global longitudinal peak strain had greater diagnostic accuracy for RV dysfunction RV dysfunction [area under curve (AUC): 0.933, cut-off value: -13.38%).

CONCLUSIONS

Biventricular strain parameters derived from CMR are sensitive markers of subclinical ventricular function impairment before EF reduction at an early stage of SLE. Biventricular strain analysis could be considered for inclusion in early cardiac functional assessment in SLE patients, particularly LV global longitudinal peak strain, which might assist in therapeutic decision-making and disease monitoring.

Imaging in Women with Heart Failure: Sex-specific Characteristics and Current Challenges

Cardiovascular disease (CVD) represents a significant threat to women's health. Heart failure (HF) is one CVD that still has an increasing incidence and about half of all cases involve women. HF is characterised by strong sex-specific features in aetiology, clinical manifestation and outcomes. Women are more likely to have hypertensive heart disease and HF with preserved ejection fraction, they experience worse quality of life but have a better overall survival rate. Women's hearts also have unique morphological characteristics that should be considered during cardiovascular assessment. It is important to understand and highlight these sex-specific features to be able to provide a tailored diagnostic approach and therapeutic management. The aim of this article is to review these aspects together with the challenges and the unique characteristics of different imaging modalities used for the diagnosis and follow-up of women with HF.

A study on echocardiographic findings in hospitalized patients with connective tissue diseases

OBJECTIVE

To determine the prevalence of echocardiographic findings and their change over time in patients with connective tissue diseases (CTDs) and to analyse which findings were associated with escalation of immunosuppressive therapy.

METHOD

We conducted a retrospective cohort study of consecutive hospitalized patients from a tertiary rheumatology referral centre who received transthoracic echocardiography between 1 January 2006 and 31 December 2015. We tested for associations between echocardiographic findings and treatment escalation via Fisher's exact test; p < 0.05 was considered significant. Escalation of therapy was defined by dosage of glucocorticoids and type of disease-modifying anti-rheumatic drug. The clinical relevance of echocardiographic findings concerning change in immunosuppressive therapy was recorded.

RESULTS

In total, 1004 patients were included (865 females), with a total of 1660 echocardiographic examinations. The most frequent findings were mitral, tricuspid, and aortic valve regurgitation (found in 36.7%, 25.4%, and 17.7% of all patients), aortic valve sclerosis (20.1%), left ventricular dysfunction (21.5%), and left atrial dilatation (19.2%). Only pericardial effusions were more frequent in cases with treatment escalation (10.9% of cases with escalated therapy vs 6.9% of cases without, p = 0.007). In 314 patients who received follow-up examinations, echocardiographic findings were found to change between examinations. Only 73 of all 1660 examinations were discussed in depth considering the treatment strategy in the hospital discharge letter.

CONCLUSION

Patients with CTDs exhibited a wide, dynamically changing spectrum of echocardiographic abnormalities. Most findings neither reflected disease activity nor appeared to influence the therapeutic regimen.

Myocardial Involvement in Rheumatic Disorders

PURPOSE OF REVIEW

Autoimmune rheumatic diseases (ARDs) affect 8% of the population and approximately 78% of patients are women. Myocardial disease in ARDs is the endpoint of various pathophysiologic mechanisms including atherosclerosis, valvular disease, systemic, myocardial, and/or vascular inflammation, as well as myocardial ischemia and replacement/diffuse fibrosis.

RECENT FINDINGS

The increased risk of CVD in ARDs leads to excess comorbidity not fully explained by traditional cardiovascular risk factors. It seems that the chronic inflammatory status typically seen in ARDs, promotes both the development of myocardial inflammation/fibrosis and the acceleration of atherosclerosis. CMR (cardio-vascular magnetic resonance) is the ideal imaging modality for the evaluation of cardiac involvement in patients with ARDs, as it can simultaneously assess cardiac function and characterize myocardial tissues with regard to oedema and fibrosis. Due to its high spatial resolution, CMR is capable of identifying various disease entities such as myocardial oedema /inflammation, subendocardial vasculitis and myocardial fibrosis, that are often missed by other imaging modalities, notably at an early stage of development. Although generally accepted guidelines about the application of CMR in ARDs have not yet been formulated, according to our experience and the available published literature, we recommend CMR in ARD patientS with new-onset heart failure (HF), arrhythmia, for treatment evaluation/change or if there is any mismatch between patient symptoms and routine non-invasive evaluation.

A Unique Case of Systemic Lupus Erythematosus Myocarditis Complicated by Plasmapheresis-Responsive Cardiogenic Shock

A 25-year-old woman with systemic lupus erythematosus complicated by biventricular failure with a history of multiple admissions presented with cardiogenic shock unresponsive to steroids, intravenous immunoglobulin, cyclophosphamide, and required extra-corporeal membrane oxygenation. Left ventricular function eventually recovered after plasmapheresis. (Level of Difficulty: Advanced.)

Outcome of clinical and subclinical myocardial injury in systemic lupus erythematosus - A prospective cohort study

OBJECTIVES

To determine the outcome of subclinical lupus myocarditis (LM) over twelve months with regards to: mortality; incidence of clinical LM and change in imaging parameters (echocardiography and cardiac magnetic resonance [CMR]). To evaluate the impact of immunosuppression on CMR evidence of myocardial tissue injury.

METHODS

SLE patients with and without CMR evidence of myocardial injury (as per 2009 Lake Louise criteria [LLC]) were included. Analysis at baseline and follow-up included: clinical evaluation, laboratory and imaging analyses (echocardiography and CMR). Clinical LM was defined as clinical features of LM supported by echocardiographic and/or biochemical evidence of myocardial dysfunction. Subclinical LM was defined as CMR myocardial injury without clinical LM.

RESULTS

Forty-nine SLE patients were included with follow-up analyses (after 12 months) available in 36 patients. Twenty-five patients (51%) received intensified immunosuppressive therapy during follow-up for indications related to SLE. Disease activity (SLEDAI-2K) improved (p < 0.001) from 13 (median;IQR:9-20) to 7 (3-11). One patient without initial CMR evidence of myocardial injury developed clinical LM. Mortality (n = 10) and SLE clinical features were similar between patients with and without initial CMR myocardial injury. Echocardiographic left ventricular ejection fraction (LVEF) (p = 0.014), right ventricular function (p = 0.001) and wall motion abnormalities (p = 0.056) improved significantly but not strain analyses nor the left LV internal diameter index. CMR mass index (p = 0.011) and LVEF (p < 0.001) improved with follow-up but not parameters identifying myocardial tissue injury (LLC). A trend towards a reduction in the presence of CMR criteria was counterbalanced by persistence (n = 7) /development of new criteria (n = 11) in patients. Change in CMR mass index correlated with change in T2-weighted signal (myocardial oedema) (r = 386;p = 0.024). Intensified immunosuppressive therapy had no significant effect on CMR parameters.

CONCLUSION

CMR evidence of subclinical LM persisted despite improved SLEDAI-2K, serological markers, cardiac function and CMR mass index. Subclinical LM did not progress to clinical LM and had no significant prognostic implications over 12 months. Immunosuppressive therapy did not have any significant effect on the presence of CMR evidence of myocardial tissue injury. Improvement in CMR mass index correlated with reduction in myocardial oedema and may be used to monitor SLE myocardial injury.

The spectrum of lupus myocarditis: from asymptomatic forms to cardiogenic shock

Lupus myocarditis is a serious, potentially deadly disease. When it presents as an acute or fulminant myocarditis in a patient without an established diagnosis of lupus, lupus as an etiology of the condition is not commonly suspected. Meanwhile, it has a distinct treatment which may be lifesaving. Review of the literature can shed more light as current management is mostly based on clinical experience and case reports rather than randomized control trials. In this review we are discussing this diagnostic entity, focusing on cardiogenic shock as a manifestation of lupus myocarditis, and discussing management including aggressive immunosuppression, mechanical circulatory support, and cardiac transplantation.

Elevated Cardiac Troponin T in Patients with Lupus Myositis Presenting with Noncardiac Chest Pain

Patients with systemic lupus erythematosus (SLE) presenting with chest pain pose a unique diagnostic challenge, with causes ranging from cardiopulmonary disease to esophageal disorders and musculoskeletal chest wall pain. The most common biomarkers for myocardial injury are cardiac troponin T and I (cTnT and cTnI) due to their high sensitivity for the early detection of myocardial infarction. In the idiopathic inflammatory myopathies, cTnT is commonly elevated, and this reflects skeletal muscle breakdown rather than myocardial damage. Similar observations have not been reported in SLE myositis to date. We present two cases of patients with SLE and associated myositis who presented with chest pain and elevated cTnT. Both patients had a normal cTnI, transthoracic echocardiogram, and cardiac magnetic resonance imaging, likely indicating noncardiac chest pain. Clinicians should be aware that the specificity of cTnT might be lower in SLE myositis and that cTnI elevation may be more specific in detecting myocardial insult.

Combined Brain/Heart Magnetic Resonance Imaging in Systemic Lupus Erythematosus

Cardiovascular Disease (CVD) in Systemic Lupus Erythematosus (SLE) and Neuropsychiatric SLE (NPSLE) has an estimated prevalence of 50% and 40%, respectively and both constitute major causes of death among SLE patients. In this review, a combined brain/heart Magnetic Resonance Imaging (MRI) for SLE risk stratification has been proposed.

The pathophysiologic background of NPSLE includes microangiopathy, macroscopic infarcts and accelerated atherosclerosis. Classic brain MRI findings demonstrate lesions suggestive of NPSLE in 50% of the NPSLE cases, while advanced MRI indices can detect pre-clinical lesions in the majority of them, but their clinical impact still remains unknown. Cardiac involvement in SLE includes myo-pericarditis, valvular disease/endocarditis, Heart Failure (HF), coronary macro-micro-vascular disease, vasculitis and pulmonary hypertension. Classic and advanced Cardiovascular Magnetic Resonance (CMR) indices allow function and tissue characterization for early diagnosis and treatment follow-up of CVD in SLE.

Although currently, there are no clinical data supporting the combined use of brain/heart MRI in asymptomatic SLE, it may have a place in cases with clinical suspicion of brain/heart involvement, especially in patients at high risk for CVD/stroke such as SLE with antiphospholipid syndrome (SLE/APS), in whom concurrent cardiac and brain lesions have been identified. Furthermore, it may be of value in SLE with multi-organ involvement, NPSLE with concurrent cardiac involvement, and recent onset of arrhythmia and/or heart failure.

Cardiovascular disease in women: insights from magnetic resonance imaging

The presentation and identification of cardiovascular disease in women pose unique diagnostic challenges compared to men, and underrecognized conditions in this patient population may lead to clinical mismanagement.This article reviews the sex differences in cardiovascular disease, explores the diagnostic and prognostic role of cardiovascular magnetic resonance (CMR) in the spectrum of cardiovascular disorders in women, and proposes the added value of CMR compared to other imaging modalities. In addition, this article specifically reviews the role of CMR in cardiovascular diseases occurring more frequently or exclusively in female patients, including Takotsubo cardiomyopathy, connective tissue disorders, primary pulmonary arterial hypertension and peripartum cardiomyopathy. Gaps in knowledge and opportunities for further investigation of sex-specific cardiovascular differences by CMR are also highlighted.

Cardiovascular magnetic resonance imaging for inflammatory heart diseases

Inflammatory myocardial diseases represent a diverse group of conditions in which abnormal inflammation within the myocardium is the primary driver of cardiac dysfunction. Broad causes of myocarditis include infection by cardiotropic viruses or other infectious agents, to systemic autoimmune disease, or to toxins. Myocarditis due to viral aetiologies is a relatively common cause of acute chest pain syndromes in younger and middle-aged patients and often has a benign prognosis, though this and other forms of myocarditis also cause serious sequelae, including heart failure, arrhythmia and death. Endomyocardial biopsy remains the gold standard tool for tissue diagnosis of myocarditis in living individuals, although new imaging technologies have a crucial and complementary role. This review outlines the current state-of-the-art and future experimental cardiovascular magnetic resonance (CMR) imaging approaches for the detection of inflammation and immune cell activity in the heart. Multiparametric CMR, particularly with novel quantitative T1- and T2-mapping, is a valuable and widely-available tool for the non-invasive assessment of inflammatory heart diseases. Novel CMR molecular contrast agents will enable a more targeted assessment of immune cell activity and may be useful in guiding the development of novel therapeutics for myocarditis.

Acute myocardial dysfunction in lupus: outcomes in Asian Indians

BACKGROUND

Acute myocardial dysfunction is an uncommon but potentially fatal complication in systemic lupus erythematosus (SLE). We describe the outcome in a small series of Asian Indian patients and examine associated factors.

METHODS

SLE patients who fulfilled the 2012 SLICC criteria and developed new-onset myocardial dysfunction were included in this retrospective case series. Acute myocardial dysfunction was defined as global hypokinesia and left ventricular ejection fraction (LVEF)<50% on echocardiography (with or without symptoms) in patients with SLE. Survival was assessed using Kaplan-Meier survival analysis and Cox regression.

RESULTS

This study included 37 patients with mean age 28.2 ± 11.2 years and median (range) LVEF of 35% (18-48%) at presentation. A majority had active disease, with SLEDAI-2k ≥ 5 in 26 (of 28). All patients received oral corticosteroids and a majority received additional immunosuppression, including pulse methylprednisolone in 28 and cyclophosphamide in 27. Nine patients died during hospitalisation (25%), a majority due to infections. Death was significantly associated with elevated procalcitonin at presentation (p = 0.05), elevated white cell count (p = 0.02) and low complement C3 (p = 0.03). In those who survived, long-term outcomes were good, with complete myocardial recovery in 14 (64%). A higher ejection fraction at presentation was associated with complete recovery.

CONCLUSIONS

In this small series of patients of SLE with acute myocardial dysfunction, we report a significant in-hospital mortality due to infections. Many of the patients who died had elevated procalcitonin at presentation. A diligent search for infection seems prudent in lupus patients who present with acute myocardial dysfunction. Key Points • In patients of SLE with acute myocardial dysfunction who were treated with immunosuppression, there was significant short-term mortality due to infections. • This mortality was associated with elevated procalcitonin at baseline and may suggest some of them had pre-existing hidden sepsis. • A prudent search for infections in these patients before immunosuppression may help to decrease short-term mortality.

Myocardial ischaemia reperfusion injury and cardioprotection in the presence of sensory neuropathy: Therapeutic options

During the last decades, mortality from acute myocardial infarction has been dramatically reduced. However, the incidence of post‐infarction heart failure is still increasing. Cardioprotection by ischaemic conditioning had been discovered more than three decades ago. Its clinical translation, however, is still an unmet need. This is mainly due to the disrupted cardioprotective signalling pathways in the presence of different cardiovascular risk factors, co‐morbidities and the medication being taken. Sensory neuropathy is one of the co‐morbidities that has been shown to interfere with cardioprotection. In the present review, we summarize the diverse aetiology of sensory neuropathies and the mechanisms by which these neuropathies may interfere with ischaemic heart disease and cardioprotective signalling. Finally, we suggest future therapeutic options targeting both ischaemic heart and sensory neuropathy simultaneously.

LINKED ARTICLES

This article is part of a themed issue on Risk factors, comorbidities, and comedications in cardioprotection. To view the other articles in this section visit http://onlinelibrary.wiley.com/doi/10.1111/bph.v177.23/issuetoc

Combined Brain-Heart Magnetic Resonance Imaging in Autoimmune Rheumatic Disease Patients with Cardiac Symptoms: Hypothesis Generating Insights from a Cross-sectional Study

BACKGROUND

Autoimmune rheumatic diseases (ARDs) may affect both the heart and the brain. However, little is known about the interaction between these organs in ARD patients. We asked whether brain lesions are more frequent in ARD patients with cardiac symptoms compared with non-ARD patients with cardiovascular disease (CVD).

METHODS

57 ARD patients with mean age of 48 ± 13 years presenting with shortness of breath, chest pain, and/or palpitations, and 30 age-matched disease-controls with non-autoimmune CVD, were evaluated using combined brain-heart magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) in a 1.5T system.

RESULTS

52 (91%) ARD patients and 16 (53%) controls had white matter hyperintensities (p < 0.001) in at least one brain area (subcortical/deep/periventricular white matter, basal ganglia, pons, brainstem, or mesial temporal lobe). Only the frequency and number of subcortical and deep white matter lesions were significantly greater in ARD patients (p < 0.001 and 0.014, respectively). ARD vs. control status was the only independent predictor of having any brain lesion. Specifically for deep white matter lesions, each increase in ECV independently predicted a higher number of lesions [odds ratio (95% confidence interval): 1.16 (1.01-1.33), p = 0.031] in ordered logistic regression. Penalized logistic regression selected only ARD vs. control status as the most important feature for predicting whether brain lesions were present on brain MRI (odds ratio: 5.46, marginal false discovery rate = 0.011).

CONCLUSIONS

Subclinical brain involvement was highly prevalent in this cohort of ARD patients and was mostly independent of the severity of cardiac involvement. However, further research is required to determine the clinical relevance of these findings.

Cardiovascular magnetic resonance in the diagnosis and management of cardiac and vascular involvement in the systemic vasculitides

PURPOSE OF REVIEW

Cardiac manifestations in systemic vasculitides, either primary or secondary due to infection, malignancy or autoimmune rheumatic diseases may be life-threatening. Cardiovascular (CVD) magnetic resonance (CMR) has been recently proposed as an ideal noninvasive tool to evaluate systemic vasculitides. In the present article, we present an overview of CMR in the diagnosis and follow-up of cardiac involvement in systemic vasculitides.

RECENT FINDINGS

CMR is a noninvasive, nonradiating modality, capable to assess cardiac function, perfusion and tissue characterization that can be of great diagnostic value in both primary and secondary systemic vasculitides. It has been already documented that CMR is superior to other imaging modalities, because it has great versatility and higher spatial resolution that allows the detection of early CVD phenomena occurring during systemic vasculitides. Magnetic resonance angiography and oedema-fibrosis imaging detect early CVD involvement such as acute and/or chronic inflammation, coronary macro-micro-circulation abnormalities and/or small vessel vasculitis.

SUMMARY

CMR due to its great versatility gives valuable information about cardiac function, perfusion, type of fibrosis and vascular integrity that may significantly contribute to treatment decisions beyond vascular scores, other disease activity or severity indices or the acute phase response.

Fragmented QRS complex in patients with systemic lupus erythematosus at the time of diagnosis and its relationship with disease activity

Objective

Cardiovascular disease is an important contributor to the mortality rate of patients with systemic lupus erythematosus (SLE), which is related to SLE disease activity. Fragmented QRS (fQRS) complexes, defined by additional spikes in the QRS complex, are useful for identifying myocardial scars on electrocardiography and can be an independent predictor of cardiac events. We aimed to assess the relationship between disease activity in patients with SLE and fQRS at the time of diagnosis.

Methods

Forty-four patients with SLE were included. Patients with cardiac diseases, other rheumatic diseases, and prior treatment at the time of electrocardiography measurement were excluded. The appearance of fQRS represented exposure. The primary outcome was SLE Disease Activity Index 2000 (SLEDAI-2K). Multiple regression analysis was conducted to assess the association between fQRS and SLEDAI-2K adjusted for age, sex, and time from the estimated onset date to the date of diagnosis.

Results

Among patients with SLE at diagnosis, 26 (59.1%) had fQRS. The median SLEDAI-2K was 18 (interquartile range [IQR], 12–22) and 9 (IQR, 8–15) in the fQRS(+) and fQRS(-) groups, respectively. SLEDAI-2K was significantly higher in the fQRS(+) group than in the fQRS(-) group (regression coefficient, 2.69; 95% confidence interval, 0.76–4.61; p = 0.008).

Conclusion

Our results suggested that fQRS(+) patients with SLE had high disease activity. fQRS could likely detect subclinical myocardial involvement in patients with SLE and predict long-term occurrence of cardiac events.

Cardiovascular disease in systemic lupus erythematosus: an update

PURPOSE OF REVIEW

The mechanisms leading to the development of premature atherosclerosis and vascular injury in systemic lupus erythematosus (SLE) remain to be fully elucidated. This is a comprehensive review of recent research developments related to the understanding of cardiovascular disease (CVD) in lupus.

RECENT FINDINGS

SLE patients with lupus nephritis display significantly increased risk of myocardial infarction and CVD mortality than SLE patients without lupus nephritis. SLE disease-related parameters could be taken into consideration when calculating CVD risks. The type I interferon pathway is detrimental to the vasculature and may contribute to the development of insulin resistance. The level of low-density granulocytes, a distinct subset of proinflammatory neutrophils present in SLE, was independently associated with coronary plaque burden and endothelial dysfunction. Invariant natural killer T cells may promote an atheroprotective effect in SLE patients with asymptomatic atherosclerotic plaques. Oxidized lupus high-density lipoprotein promotes proinflammatory responses in macrophages.

SUMMARY

Recent discoveries have further strengthened the critical role of SLE-related immune dysregulation and metabolic disturbances in promoting accelerated CVD. Understanding how these pathogenic factors promote vascular injury may provide better molecular candidates for therapeutic targeting, and ultimately to improve CVD outcomes.

Hidden in Heart Failure

Current diagnostic strategies fail to illuminate the presence of rare disease in the heart failure population. One-third of heart failure patients are categorised as suffering an idiopathic dilated cardiomyopathy, while others are labelled only as heart failure with preserved ejection fraction. Those affected frequently suffer from delays in diagnosis, which can have a significant impact on quality of life and prognosis. Traditional rhetoric argues that delineation of this patient population is superfluous to treatment, as elucidation of aetiology will not lead to a deviation from standard management protocols. This article emphasises the importance of identifying genetic, inflammatory and infiltrative causes of heart failure to enable patients to access tailored management strategies.

The heart in systemic lupus erythematosus - A comprehensive approach by cardiovascular magnetic resonance tomography

Background

In systemic lupus erythematosus (SLE), cardiac manifestations, e.g. coronary artery disease (CAD) and myocarditis are leading causes of morbidity and mortality. The prevalence of subclinical heart disease in SLE is unknown. We studied whether a comprehensive cardiovascular magnetic resonance (CMR) protocol may be useful for early diagnosis of heart disease in SLE patients without known CAD.

Methods

In this prospective, observational, cross-sectional study CMR including cine, late gadolinium enhancement (LGE) and stress perfusion sequences, ECG, and blood sampling were performed in 30 consecutive SLE patients without known CAD. All patients fulfilled at least 4/11 American College of Rheumatology (ACR) Criteria for the classification of SLE.

Results

30 patients (83% female) were enrolled, mean age was 45±14 years and mean SLE disease duration was 10±8 years. 80% had low to moderate disease activity. All had a low SLE damage index. CMR was abnormal in 13/30 (43%), showing LGE in 9/13, stress perfusion deficits in 5/13 and pericardial effusion (PE) in 7/13. Patients with non-ischemic LGE had more often microalbuminuria while patients with stress perfusion deficits a history of hypertension, renal disorder as ACR criterion, repolarisation abnormalities on ECG and larger LV enddiastolic volume index. There was no correlation between clinical symptoms and CMR results.

Conclusion

Our study shows that cardiac involvement as observed by CMR is frequent in SLE and not necessarily associated with typical symptoms. CMR may thus help to detect subclinical cardiac involvement, which could lead to earlier treatment. Additionally we identify possible risk factors associated with cardiac involvement.

Lupus myocarditis: a single center experience and a comparative analysis of observational cohort studies

Background Lupus myocarditis (LM) is reported in 3-9% of patients with systemic lupus erythematosus (SLE) but limited evidence exists regarding optimal treatment and prognosis. This study aims to describe LM in a defined lupus cohort as compared with the existing literature. Patients and methods Patients with LM were identified from the University of Toronto Lupus Clinic database. Diagnosis was based on clinical manifestations and electrocardiographic, imaging, and biochemical criteria. Demographic, clinical, diagnostic and therapeutic variables and outcomes were collected in a standardized data retrieval form. A literature review was performed to identify cohort studies reporting on LM treatment and outcome. A comparative analysis was conducted between our patients and the combined cohort of the existing studies. Results Thirty patients were diagnosed with LM (prevalence 1.6%) and compared with a cumulative cohort of 117 patients from five distinct studies. No significant differences were found regarding the age at diagnosis (32.6 ± 13.4 years) and SLE duration (2.5 years median). Concomitant lupus activity from other organ systems was observed in 97% of the patients. Chest pain was more frequently reported in our cohort whereas dyspnea was more prominent in the other studies. Diagnostic criteria were similar across studies. Therapeutic approach was comparable and consisted of glucocorticosteroids (96.6%) and immunosuppressives (70%). Mortality was approximately 20% whereas another 20% of the patients achieved partial and 60% complete recovery. Conclusions LM usually occurs early in the disease course and in the context of generalized lupus activity. Despite aggressive therapy, approximately 40% of the patients died or had residual heart damage.

Can cardiovascular magnetic resonance prompt early cardiovascular/rheumatic treatment in autoimmune rheumatic diseases? Current practice and future perspectives

Life expectancy in autoimmune rheumatic diseases (ARDs) remains lower compared to the general population, due to various comoborbidities. Cardiovascular disease (CVD) represents the main contributor to premature mortality. Conventional and biologic disease-modifying antirheumatic drugs (DMARDs) have considerably improved long-term outcomes in ARDs not only by suppressing systemic inflammation but also by lowering CVD burden. Regarding atherosclerotic disease prevention, EULAR has recommended tight disease control accompanied by regular assessment of traditional CVD risk factors and lifestyle changes. However, this approach, although rational and evidence-based, does not account for important issues such as myocardial inflammation and the long asymptomatic period that usually proceeds clinical manifestations of CVD disease in ARDs before or after the diagnosis of systemic disease. Cardiovascular magnetic resonance (CMR) can offer reliable, reproducible and operator independent information regarding myocardial inflammation, ischemia and fibrosis. Some studies suggest a role for CMR in the risk stratification of ARDs and demonstrate that oedema/fibrosis visualisation with CMR may have the potential to inform cardiac and rheumatic treatment modification in ARDs with or without abnormal routine cardiac evaluation. In this review, we discuss how CMR findings could influence anti-rheumatic treatment decisions targeting optimal control of both systemic and myocardial inflammation irrespective of clinical manifestations of cardiac disease. CMR can provide a different approach that is very promising for risk stratification and treatment modification; however, further studies are needed before the inclusion of CMR in the routine evaluation and treatment of patients with ARDs.