PURPOSE:

To examine heart disease in the systemic lupus erythematosus (SLE) and the association of cardiac abnormalities with anticardiolipin antibodies (ACL).

METHODS:

Sixteen patients with active SLE disease (group I) were compared with 14 patients without disease activity (group II). A control group of 10 healthy subjects were also evaluated. Patients were subjected to cardiovascular history and physical examination as well as electrocardiogram, thoracic x-ray, two-dimensional and Doppler echocardiogram, and ACL serum determination (ELISA).

RESULTS:

Myocardial disease characterized by tachycardia, heart failure or echocardiographic abnormalities was shown by 75of patients in the group I. It was associated with ACL positive in 27.2of these patients. Pericardial and valvular involvement were observed in 25of patients in group I. Group II showed myocardial involvement in 21.4of patients without positive ACL.

CONCLUSION:

Myocardial disease was the most frequent heart involvement in active SLE, and we did not found any association between SLE heart disease and positive anticardiolipin antibodies.