ASSESSMENT OF RIGHT ATRIAL FUNCTION IN SYSTEMIC LUPUS ERYTHEMATOSUS PATIENTS WITH DIFFERENT PULMONARY ARTERY SYSTOLIC PRESSURE BY THREE-DIMENSIONAL ECHOCARDIOGRAPHY

Ying LI, *Hongyan CUI, Shengda SONG, Lihua SUN, Mengyao SUN, Bijun TAN and Guangsen LI

ABSTRACT

Objective: To evaluate the right atrial function in patients with systemic lupus erythematosus (SLE) complicated by estimated pulmonary arterial hypertension (PAH) by three-dimensional echocardiography(3DE). Methods: According to the severity of PAH estimated by echocardiography, a total of 102 SLE patients were partitioned into three groups, group A was SLE without PAH(n=37), group B was SLE with mild PAH(n=34), group C was SLE with moderate to severe PAH(n=31). Thirty healthy volunteers were selected into separate group as in contrast (group D). The active emptying volume index (AVEI), the total empty fraction index(EFI) and passive empty fraction index(EFIpas) were measured. Results: Group B and Group C have higher Right Atrial Active Emptying Volume Index (RAVIa) than the control group, and the RAVIa is positively correlated to the pulmonary artery systolic pressure (PASP) (all P<0.05). Group B and Group C have lower Right Atrial Volume Passive emptying fraction (RAVpEF)and Right Atrial Total Volume emptying fraction (RAVtEF) than the control group, exhibiting a negative correlation to PASP (P<0.05). The RAVaEF of Group B and Group C are higher than that of the control group (P<0.05). Conclusion: 3DE offered an accurately and effective method to evaluate the RA function in patients with SLE.

Keywords: Systemic lupus erythematosus, three-dimensional echocardiography, right atrial function, pulmonary hypertension.