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Publication Details
AFRICAN RESEARCH NEXUS
SHINING A SPOTLIGHT ON AFRICAN RESEARCH
medicine
Large pericardial effusions due to systemic lupus erythematosus: A report of eight cases
Lupus, Volume 14, No. 6, Year 2005
Notification
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Description
The aim of this study was to describe the clinical, echocardiographic and laboratory characteristics of large pericardial effusions and cardiac tamponade secondary to systemic lupus erythematosus (SLE). An ongoing prospective study was conducted at Tygerberg Academic Hospital, South Africa between 1996 and 2002. All patients older than 13 years presenting with large pericardial effusions (> 10 mm) requiring pericardiocentesis were included. Eight cases (out of 258) were diagnosed with SLE. The mean (SD) age was 29.5 (10.7) years. Common clinical features were Raynaud's phenomenon, arthralgia and lupus nephritis class III/IV. Echocardiography showed Libman-Sacks endocarditis (LSE) in all the mitral valves. Two patients developed transient left ventricular dysfunction; both these patients had pancarditis. Typical serological findings included antinuclear antibodies, anti-double stranded DNA antibodies, low complement C4 levels and low C3 levels. CRP was elevated in six cases. Treatment consisted of oral steroids and complete drainage of the pericardial effusions. No repeat pericardial effusions or constrictive pericarditis developed amongst the survivors (3.1 years follow up). This study concludes that large pericardial effusions due to SLE are rare, and associated with nephritis, LSE and myocardial dysfunction. Treatment with steroids and complete drainage is associated with a good cardiac outcome. © 2005 Edward Arnold (Publishers) Ltd.
Authors & Co-Authors
Weich, Hellmuth F.H.
South Africa, Tygerberg
Tygerberg Hospital
Burgess, Lesley Jean
South Africa, Tygerberg
Tygerberg Hospital
South Africa, Tygerberg
Tread Research
Reuter, Helmuth
South Africa, Tygerberg
Tygerberg Hospital
Brice, Edmund A.W.
South Africa, Tygerberg
Tygerberg Hospital
Doubell, Anton Frans
South Africa, Tygerberg
Tygerberg Hospital
Statistics
Citations: 42
Authors: 5
Affiliations: 2
Identifiers
Doi:
10.1191/0961203305lu2131oa
ISSN:
09612033
Research Areas
Genetics And Genomics
Health System And Policy
Noncommunicable Diseases
Study Design
Cohort Study
Study Locations
South Africa