Johns Hopkins Health Alert
Lupus and Heart Disease
Systemic lupus erythematosus (SLE), or lupus, is an autoimmune disease, in which the immune system mistakenly attacks the body's own organs and tissues. The sites most often affected are the joints, skin, kidneys, heart, lungs, blood vessels, and brain. Now research reported in the journal Arthritis and Rheumatism (Volume 58, page 1458) looks at lupus and heart disease – a complication often overlooked by both doctors and patients.
Scientists have known for years that the risk of heart disease is greater for people with lupus than for those without the disease. But many people with lupus aren't getting that message, according to a recent study.
Researchers sent questionnaires to 226 people with lupus and found that only 31% were aware that they faced a significantly increased risk of cardiovascular disease because of lupus. In 58% of the cases, doctors had not discussed the risk or preventive measures.
The patients who had discussed heart disease with their physicians were more than twice as likely to understand that lupus was a risk factor and more than three times as likely to understand that they themselves were at risk. Lupus patients who were younger than 32 were more likely to understand that information than patients over 52, even though younger patients were less likely to have talked about heart disease with their doctors. The researchers speculate that younger patients may be more likely to be getting information from sources like the Internet.
If you have lupus, talk with your doctor about your risk of heart disease and the risk factors you can control: weight, blood pressure, cholesterol levels, and fitness.
Posted in Arthritis on February 22, 2010
Reviewed October 2011
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How does Lupus (or scleroderma) affect the heart and, as a result, what are the conditions of the heart to which persons with these diseases are subject?
Posted by: crmco | February 27, 2010 1:19 PM
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Does having an autoimmune disease, such as Scleroderma, which is believed to be similar to Lupus, put you at a greater risk for heart disease?
Posted by: Mare | February 22, 2010 12:17 PM