P4440Assessment of left atrial function in patients with systemic lupus erythematosus with and without neuropsychiatric manifestations: association with cardiovascular events
Authors: Gegenava T , Gegenava M , Steup-Beekman M , Huizinga T , Bax J , Delgado V , Ajmone-Marsan N 
Published: October 2019

Introduction

Cardiac involvement in Systemic Lupus Erythematosus (SLE) may lead to left ventricular (LV) hypertrophy with possible impairment of LV diastolic function and left atrial (LA) function, particularly in patients with severe forms of SLE with neuropsychiatric manifestations (NPSLE) and can also be associated with cardiovascular outcome.

Purpose

We evaluated the prevalence of LV diastolic dysfunction and LA dysfunction in a large cohort of SLE patients including also NPSLE patients, and their association with the occurrence of cardiovascular events (cerebrovascular accidents, lung-embolism, coronary revascularisation, heart failure hospitalisations and development of supraventricular arrhythmias).

Methods

A total of 102 SLE patients (87% female, 42±15 years) were included, of which 43 (42%) with NPSLE according to a multidisciplinary team assessment. All patients fulfilled the American College of Rheumatology (ACR 1997) and Systemic Lupus Erythematosus International Collaborating Clinics (SLICC 2012) classification criteria for SLE. Echocardiography was performed at the first visit: LV diastolic function was assessed according to current recommendations and including Tissue Doppler Imaging measures; LA volume (LAVI) was also measured and LA function was assessed by LA reservoir strain using 2D speckle tracking imaging.

Results

In the SLE patients, mean LV mass index was 82±32 g/m2, 29% of patients showed an e'septal <10, 7% an E/e'>14, 16% a LAVI>34 ml/m2 and 5% a tricuspid velocity >2.8m/s. When applying the currently recommended multiparametric approach, only 4% of SLE patients showed LV diastolic dysfunction. In NPSLE patients, the prevalence of LV diastolic dysfunction was not significantly higher (5%). However, an impaired LA reservoir strain (based on the median value of 25%) was observed in 54% of the total SLE population and in 77% of NPSLE patients suggesting higher sensitivity of this parameter to detect impaired LA function and LV diastolic function. During a median follow up of 11 years (Interquartile range: 4–19 years), 43 (42%) patients developed a cardiovascular event. Kaplan-Meier curve analysis showed that SLE patients with impaired LA strain <25% experienced higher cumulative rates of cardiovascular events, as compared to SLE patients with LA strain≥25% (Chi-square 4.350; Log rank p=0.037). At the uni- and multivariate Cox-regression models, LA strain showed significant association with cardiovascular events (hazard ratio [HR]:0.944; 95% confidence interval [CI]: 0.893–0.997; p=0.039) together with age (HR: 1.030; 95% CI: 1.002–1.059; p=0.039) after correcting for LV mass index and LV diastolic dysfunction.

LA reservoir strain

Conclusions

LA dysfunction as assessed by LA reservoir strain is significantly impaired in SLE and particularly in NPSLE patients and improve detection of myocardial involvement in these patients. Furthermore, LA reservoir strain is independently associated with the development of cardiovascular events.