Reduced Left Ventricular Function on Cardiac MRI in SLE Patients Correlates with Measures of SLE Disease Activity and Inflammation.
Audrey M Hagiwara, Erica Montano, Gantseg Tumurkhuu, Moumita Bose, Marianne Bernardo, Daniel S Berman, Galen Cook Wiens, Michael D Nelson, Daniel J Wallace, Janet Wei, Mariko Ishimori, C Noel Bairey Merz, Caroline Jefferies
Author Information
Audrey M Hagiwara: Division of Rheumatology, Department of Medicine, Cedars-Sinai Medical Center, Los Angeles, CA.
Erica Montano: Division of Rheumatology, Department of Medicine, Cedars-Sinai Medical Center, Los Angeles, CA.
Gantseg Tumurkhuu: Division of Rheumatology, Department of Medicine, Cedars-Sinai Medical Center, Los Angeles, CA.
Moumita Bose: Division of Rheumatology, Department of Medicine, Cedars-Sinai Medical Center, Los Angeles, CA.
Marianne Bernardo: Division of Rheumatology, Department of Medicine, Cedars-Sinai Medical Center, Los Angeles, CA.
Daniel S Berman: S. Mark Taper Foundation Imaging Center, Cedars-Sinai Medical Center.
Galen Cook Wiens: Barbra Streisand Women's Heart Center, Cedars-Sinai Heart Institute, Cedars-Sinai Medical Center.
Michael D Nelson: Barbra Streisand Women's Heart Center, Cedars-Sinai Heart Institute, Cedars-Sinai Medical Center.
Daniel J Wallace: Division of Rheumatology, Department of Medicine, Cedars-Sinai Medical Center, Los Angeles, CA.
Janet Wei: Department of Cardiology, Cedars-Sinai Medical Center.
Mariko Ishimori: Division of Rheumatology, Department of Medicine, Cedars-Sinai Medical Center, Los Angeles, CA.
C Noel Bairey Merz: Department of Cardiology, Cedars-Sinai Medical Center.
Caroline Jefferies: Division of Rheumatology, Department of Medicine, Cedars-Sinai Medical Center, Los Angeles, CA.
Background: Women with SLE have an elevated risk of CVD morbidity and mortality and frequently report chest pain in the absence of obstructive CAD. Echocardiographic studies often demonstrate reduced LV function, correlating with higher disease activity. We used cardiac MRI (cMRI) to investigate the relationship between SLE, related inflammatory biomarkers and cardiac function in female SLEpatients. Methods: Women with SLE reporting chest pain with no obstructive CAD (n=13) and reference controls (n=22) were evaluated using stress-rest cMRI to measure LV structure, function, tissue characteristics, and myocardial perfusion reserve index (MPRI). Coronary microvascular dysfunction (CMD) was defined as MPRI <1.84. Serum samples were analyzed for inflammatory markers. Relationships between clinical and cMRI values of SLE subjects were assessed, and groups were compared. Results: 40% of SLE subjects had MPRI < 1.84 on cMRI. Compared to controls, SLE subjects had higher LV volumes and mass and lower LV systolic function. SLICC DI was related to worse cardiac function and higher T1. CRP was related to higher cardiac output and a trend to better systolic function, while ESR and fasting insulin were related to lower LV mass. Lower fasting insulin levels correlated with increased ECV. Conclusions: Among our female SLE cohort, 40% had CMD, and SLICC DI correlated with worse cardiac function and diffuse fibrosis. Higher inflammatory markers and low insulin levels may associate with LV dysfunction. Our findings underline the potential of non-invasive cMRI as a tool for monitoring cardiovascular function in SLEpatients.
