Systemic lupus erythematosus-associated pulmonary hypertension: Clinical variables and survival outcome

摘要

Aim: Compare systemic lupus erythematosus (SLE) patients with pulmonary hypertension (PH) versus SLE without PH, to study the variables associated with PH. Methods: Case-control cross-sectional study of SLE patients from 2006 to 2011. PH was diagnosed by echocardiogram or cardiac catheterization. Controls were randomly selected from SLE patients with no PH. PH cases: controls ratio was 39:69, matching for age and gender. Clinical, serologic profiles and outcome were analyzed. Results: We identified 39 PH patients. Anti-ribonucleoprotein was positively associated with PH; malar rash was negatively associated. The 3-year survival of SLE-PH patients was 87.2%. Conclusion: The differences associated with SLE-PH may aid early recognition and treatment. We suggest a lower threshold for screening or even routine screening of PH in patients with anti-ribonucleoprotein positivity and negative malar rash.