Abstract

AQUINO VALDOVINOS, Alicia et al. Cardiopulmonary morbidity and mortality in patients with systemic lupus erythematosus. Mem. Inst. Investig. Cienc. Salud [online]. 2015, vol.13, n.2, pp.126-137. ISSN 1812-9528.  https://doi.org/10.18004/Mem.iics/1812-9528/2015.013(02)127-138.

Patients with the diagnosis of systemic lupus erythematosus (SLE) have an elevated morbidity and mortality from cardiopulmonary complications that develop during the evolution of the disease. Considering the incidence of the mortality in this immunologic disease, two peaks have been described. The first one is related to the immune activity itself and it is observed in the first three years the diagnosis. The second peak is related to the cardiopulmonary complications and it is observed after 4 to 20 years after diagnosis. Although, early mortality has diminished due to better knowledge of the physiopathology of the disease and to the use of immunosuppressive drugs, late mortality has a progressive increment despite advances in the therapeutic management. There is a great interest in the study of these complications due to the negative impact on the prognosis of the SLE patients. Some epidemiologic studies suggest that patients with SLE have a higher cardiovascular risk than the healthy population. Indeed, they have greater risk of developing cardiovascular events (acute myocardial infarction, cerebrovascular accidents, and peripheral artery disease) in comparison to the general population. The presence of pulmonary complications (pleuritic effusion, pneumonitis, pulmonary hemorrhage, pulmonary embolism, pulmonary hypertension) increases the mortality in SLE patients. The proper knowledge of the cardiopulmonary complications in SLE patients will provide an individual and more effective management allowing a decrease in morbidity and mortality. The aim of this manuscript is to revise the literature on cardiopulmonary complications and their associated morbidity and mortality in SLE patients.

Keywords : cardiopulmonary manifestations; systemic lupus erythematosus; cardiopulmonary morbidity; mortality.

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