Cardiac and Laboratory Findings in Patients With Systemic Lupus Erythematosus

This study is designed to investigate the association of the clinical and laboratory parameters or data with the cardiac structural and functional abnormalities in systemic lupus erythematosus(SLE). Patients with at least four ACR classification criteria for SLE and stable clinical condition (no need for immunosuppressive therapy intensification, i.e. current immunosuppressive drug dose increase or introduction of an additional immunosuppressive drug within last 3 months) will be included in the study. Study procedures will include clinical evaluation, lab tests including blood counts, liver and kidney functions and antibodies levels such as ANA, antiphospholipid antibodies, anti-ds DNA as well as inflammatory markers such as sedimentation rates. Also evaluation of cardiac status by cardiologist examination echocardiography and gadolinium enhanced cardiac MRI. Next, correlation between cardiac abnormalities and laboratory changes will be statistically analyzed.

* Subject recruitment and obtaining consent Study subjects (SLE patients) will be recruited from patients attending outpatient clinic and inpatients of the Rheumatology and Rehabilitation Department, Faculty of Medicine, Assiut University. Written informed consent form will be obtained from each patient.
* Baseline evaluation:

  1. All SLE patients selected for the study will fulfill the ACR criteria for the diagnosis of SLE .
  2. Thorough clinical history and examination will be performed to all SLE patients. Pulmonary function (PFTs) test will be performed to exclude respiratory failure.
  3. Urine pregnancy test to exclude pregnancy will be performed to all SLE females' patients of the childbearing period in the study group.
* Laboratory tests: the following tests will be performed to all study population:

  1. Complete blood count (CBC),
  2. Liver and kidney functions and measurement of protein in urine collected over 24 hours,
  3. Levels of Erythrocyte sedimentation rate (ESR) and C-reactive protein (CRP).
  4. Antinuclear antibodies (ANA) and their titer will be assessed by indirect immunofluorescence,
  5. Complement system C3 and C4 factors will be measured to determine disease activity,
  6. Serum levels of anticardiolipin (aCL) and lupus anticoagulant antibodies will be measured using ELISA.
* Disease activity will be assessed by using SELDAI score \[11\].
* Cardiac evaluation

  1. Echocardiography will be performed to evaluate structural and functional outcome measures.
  2. Cardiac MRI: Multiple consecutive MR image sections will be obtained from the apex to the base of the heart. T2 and T1 mapping will be performed. T1-weighted inversion recovery scout images will be acquired 15 min after injection of 0.2 mmol/kg of gadolinium based contrast agent. The functional and volumetric analysis will be performed to quantify ventricular volumes and functions.

Eligibility Criteria:
Inclusion Criteria:

* Patients have at least four ACR classification criteria for SLE.
* Stable clinical condition (no need for immunosuppressive therapy intensification, i.e. current immunosuppressive drug dose increase or introduction of an additional immunosuppressive drug within last 3 months).

Exclusion Criteria:

* Patients less than 18 years old
* Clinical symptoms of heart failure.
* Renal failure (creatinine clearance \< 30 ml/ min).
* Respiratory failure.
* Pregnancy.
* Patients with contraindications for MRI e.g. patients with aneurysm clips or cardiac pacemakers and patients who are sensitive to gadolinium dye.