Echocardiographic observation of acute myocarditis with systemic lupus erythematosus

Jpn Circ J. 2000 Feb;64(2):144-6. doi: 10.1253/jcj.64.144.

Abstract

Although myocarditis from a series of autopsies of patients with systemic lupus erythematosus was frequently observed, the incidence of clinically apparent myocardial dysfunction was low. A 30-year-old woman with systemic lupus erythematosus was examined by echocardiography. An acoustic densitometry was followed at the left ventricular posterior wall throughout the clinical course. A decrease in the magnitude of cyclic variation of integrated backscatter (IB) was observed before treatment. Following the combined treatment, steroid and cyclophosphamide, a repeated ultrasonic tissue characterization showed an increase in the magnitude of cyclic variation of IB. It is thought that ultrasonic tissue characterization may be a useful method to evaluate the impairment of contraction, and to follow up the clinical course of myocardial involvement in systemic lupus erythematosus.

Publication types

  • Case Reports

MeSH terms

  • Adult
  • Cyclophosphamide / therapeutic use
  • Female
  • Humans
  • Immunosuppressive Agents / therapeutic use
  • Lupus Erythematosus, Systemic* / complications
  • Lupus Erythematosus, Systemic* / drug therapy
  • Lupus Erythematosus, Systemic* / physiopathology
  • Myocarditis* / diagnostic imaging
  • Myocarditis* / drug therapy
  • Myocarditis* / etiology
  • Myocarditis* / physiopathology
  • Pregnancy
  • Pregnancy Complications, Cardiovascular* / drug therapy
  • Pregnancy Complications, Cardiovascular* / physiopathology
  • Steroids / therapeutic use
  • Ultrasonography

Substances

  • Immunosuppressive Agents
  • Steroids
  • Cyclophosphamide