Systemic Lupus Erythematosus

Systemic Lupus Erythematosus - Symptoms

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Heart Complications

The risk for cardiovascular disease, heart attack, and stroke is much higher than average in patients with SLE, and heart disease is a primary cause of death. The chronic inflammation associated with SLE can cause plaque build-up in the heart’s arteries (atherosclerosis), which can lead to coronary heart disease and heart attack. SLE also affects blood vessels and circulation. In addition, SLE treatments (particularly corticosteroids) can affect cholesterol, weight, and other factors that impact the heart. [For more information, see In-Depth Report #03: Coronary artery disease.].

Patients with SLE have a higher risk for developing the following conditions, which put them at risk for heart attack or stroke:

Atherosclerosis, or plaque buildup in the arteries

Unhealthy cholesterol and lipid (fatty molecules) levels

High blood pressure, often associated with kidney damage and corticosteroid treatments

Heart failure

Pericarditis, inflammation of the tissue surrounding the heart

Endocarditis, inflammation in the lining of the heart

Myocarditis, inflammation of the heart muscle itself

Coronary vasculitis, inflammation of the blood vessels of the heart

Click the icon to see an image of pericarditis.

Lung Complications

SLE affects the lungs in several ways:

Inflammation of the membrane lining the lung (pleurisy) is the most common problem, which can cause shortness of breath and coughing.

In some cases, fluid accumulates, a condition called pleural effusion.

Inflammation of the lung tissue itself is called lupus pneumonitis. It can be caused by infections or by the SLE inflammatory process. Symptoms are the same in both cases: fever, chest pain, labored breathing, and coughing. Rarely, lupus pneumonitis becomes chronic and causes scarring in the lungs, which reduces their ability to deliver oxygen to the blood.

A very serious and rare condition called pulmonary hypertension occurs when high pressure develops as a result of damage to the blood vessels of the lungs.