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

Isolated myocardial edema in cardiac magnetic resonance - in search of a management strategy

Isolated myocardial edema not accompanied by late gadolinium enhancement (LGE) may be occasionally found on cardiac magnetic resonance (CMR). This type of picture may be encountered in patients with suspected myocarditis, post some acute cardiac events, with cardiac allograft rejection or even in athletes after an extreme exercise. Currently, there is no clear management strategy for this type of incidental finding. In this narrative review we discuss the methods and pitfalls of edema detection with means of CMR, review published data on isolated myocardial edema for each of the most probable clinical scenarios and propose a structured clinical decision-making algorithm to help clinicians navigate through this type of CMR result. Finally, we highlight the most important gaps in evidence related to isolated myocardial edema without fibrosis, where further research is particularly needed.

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.

Lupus myocarditis: review of current diagnostic modalities and their application in clinical practice

Lupus myocarditis (LM) is a potentially fatal manifestation of SLE, occurring in 5-10% of patients. Clinical manifestations may vary from an unexplained tachycardia to fulminant congestive cardiac failure (CCF). With no single clinical or imaging modality being diagnostic, a rational and practical approach to the patient presenting with possible LM is essential. Markers of myocyte injury (including troponin I and creatine kinase) may be unelevated and do not exclude a diagnosis of LM. Findings on ECG are non-specific but remain essential to exclude other causes of CCF such as an acute coronary syndrome or conduction disorders. Echocardiographic modalities including wall motion abnormalities and speckle tracking echocardiography may demonstrate regional and/or global left ventricular dysfunction and is more sensitive than conventional echocardiography, especially early in the course of LM. Cardiac magnetic resonance imaging (CMRI) is regarded as the non-invasive diagnostic modality of choice in myocarditis. While more sensitive and specific than echocardiography, CMRI has certain limitations in the context of SLE, including technical challenges in acutely unwell and uncooperative patients, contraindications to gadolinium use in the context of renal impairment (including lupus nephritis) and limited literature regarding the application of recommended diagnostic CMRI criteria in SLE. Both echocardiography as well as CMRI may detect subclinical myocardial dysfunction and/or injury of which the clinical significance remains uncertain. Considering these challenges, a combined decision-making approach by rheumatologists and cardiologists interpreting diagnostic test results within the clinical context of the patient is essential to ensure an accurate, early diagnosis of LM.

The effect of community-acquired pneumonia on myocardial injury in systemic lupus erythematosus: Insights from cardiac magnetic resonance

OBJECTIVES

Myocardial injury (MInj) in systemic lupus erythematosus (SLE) has been observed in several studies. However, clinical predictors of MInj remain unclear. We aim to explore the effects of community-acquired pneumonia (CAP) on MInj in SLE patients according to cardiac magnetic resonance (CMR) T1 mapping.

METHODS

SLE patients with or without CAP and healthy controls underwent CMR screening. The CMR protocol included: cines, T1- and T2 mapping, and late gadolinium enhancement (LGE). Clinical characteristics, CMR findings, and T1 mapping measuremments were compared between subgroups. Clinical assessment was performed on the subjects.

RESULTS

Thirty-eight SLE patients were screened, including 18 patients with CAP (CAP group) and 20 age- and gender-matched patients without CAP (non-CAP group) as well as 26 healthy controls. The platelet count of CAP group was higher than the non-CAP group (p = 0.015). Compared with the health control group, native T1 was higher in the CAP group (p < 0.001) and the non-CAP group (p = 0.002). ECV was higher in the CAP group (p < 0.001) and the non-CAP group (p = 0.002). The LV ejection fraction (p = 0.049) and RV ejection fraction (p = 0.026) of the CAP group was lower than that of the healthy control group, whereas no significant difference was observed between non-CAP and healthy control groups.

CONCLUSIONS

This is the first study that assesses the effects of CAP on MInj of SLE patients by CMRI T1 mapping. We highlight SLE patients with CAP who are at increased risk of MInj, manifesting as myocardial inflammation, diffuse myocardial fibrosis, and decreased ventricular function.

Predictive Value of Echocardiographic Strain for Myocardial Fibrosis and Adverse Outcomes in Autoimmune Diseases

Background

Myocardial fibrosis is an important pathophysiologic mechanism of cardiac involvement that leads to increased mortality in patients with autoimmune diseases (AIDs). The aim of this study was to evaluate the association between myocardial strain from speckle-tracking echocardiography (STE) and fibrosis on cardiovascular magnetic resonance (CMR) and to further explore their prognostic implications in patients with AIDs.

Methods

We prospectively included 102 AIDs patients with clinically suspected cardiac involvement and 102 age- and sex-matched healthy individuals. Patients underwent CMR for evaluation of myocardial fibrosis by late gadolinium enhancement (LGE) and T1 mapping. A semiquantitative evaluation based on the extent of LGE was used to calculate the total (tLGEs) and segmental (sLGEs) LGE score. Global longitudinal strain (GLS) was evaluated by STE in all subjects. All patients were regularly followed up every 6 months. The primary endpoint was the composite incidence of all-cause death and cardiovascular hospitalization.

Results

Compared to healthy controls, AIDs patients had impaired GLS (−17.9 ± 5.1% vs. −21.2 ± 2.5%, p &lt; 0.001). LGE was detected in 70% of patients. Patients with LGE presented worse GLS (−17.1 ± 5.3% vs. −19.6 ± 4.1%, p = 0.018) than those without LGE. On multivariate logistic analysis, GLS ≥ −15% was an independent predictor of LGE presence (OR = 4.98, 95%CI 1.35–18.33, p = 0.016). Moreover, a marked and stepwise impairment of segmental longitudinal strain (−19.3 ± 6.6 vs. −14.9 ± 6.5 vs. −8.9 ± 6.3, p &lt; 0.001) was observed as sLGEs increased. During a median follow-up time of 25 months, 6 patients died, and 14 patients were hospitalized for cardiovascular reasons. Both GLS ≥ −15% (HR 3.56, 95%CI 1.28–9.86, p = 0.015) and tLGEs ≥ 6 (HR 4.13, 95%CI 1.43–11.92, p = 0.009) were independently associated with the primary endpoint.

Conclusions

In AIDs patients, impaired myocardial strain on STE could reflect the presence and extent of myocardial fibrosis and provide incremental prognostic value in addition to LGE in the prediction of adverse outcomes.

SLE strikes the heart! A rare presentation of SLE myocarditis presenting as cardiogenic shock

Background

Although systemic lupus erythematosus (SLE) can affect the cardiovascular system in many ways with diverse presentations, a severe cardiogenic shock secondary to SLE myocarditis is infrequently described in the medical literature. Variable presenting features of SLE myocarditis can also make the diagnosis challenging. This case report will allow learners to consider SLE myocarditis in the differential and appreciate the diagnostic uncertainty.

Case presentation

A 20-year-old Filipino male presented with acute dyspnea, pleuritic chest pain, fevers, and diffuse rash after being diagnosed with SLE six months ago and treated with hydroxychloroquine. Labs were notable for leukopenia, non-nephrotic range proteinuria, elevated cardiac biomarkers, inflammatory markers, low complements, and serologies suggestive of active SLE. Broad-spectrum IV antibiotics and corticosteroids were initiated for sepsis and SLE activity. Blood cultures were positive for MSSA with likely skin source. An electrocardiogram showed diffuse ST-segment elevations without ischemic changes. CT chest demonstrated bilateral pleural and pericardial effusions with dense consolidations. Transthoracic and transesophageal echocardiogram demonstrated reduced left ventricular ejection fraction (LVEF) 45% with no valvular pathology suggestive of endocarditis. Although MSSA bacteremia resolved, the patient rapidly developed cardiopulmonary decline with a repeat echocardiogram demonstrating LVEF < 10%. A Cardiac MRI was a nondiagnostic study to elucidate an etiology of decompensation given inability to perform late gadolinium enhancement. Later, cardiac catheterization revealed normal cardiac output with non-obstructive coronary artery disease. As there was no clear etiology explaining his dramatic heart failure, endomyocardial biopsy was obtained demonstrating diffuse myofiber degeneration and inflammation. These pathological findings, in addition to skin biopsy demonstrating lichenoid dermatitis with a granular “full house” pattern was most consistent with SLE myocarditis. Furthermore, aggressive SLE-directed therapy demonstrated near full recovery of his heart failure.

Conclusion

Although myocarditis during SLE flare is a well-described cardiac manifestation, progression to cardiogenic shock is infrequent and fatal. As such, SLE myocarditis should be promptly considered. Given the heterogenous presentation of SLE, combination of serologic evaluation, advanced imaging, and myocardial biopsies can be helpful when diagnostic uncertainty exists. Our case highlights diagnostic methods and clinical course of a de novo presentation of cardiogenic shock from SLE myocarditis, then rapid improvement.