Heart Enlargement Measure May Predict Major Cardiac and Brain Events in People with Systemic Lupus Erythematosus | Lupus Foundation of America

Summary: A new study shows that simple heart scans can help predict serious heart and brain problems in people with systemic lupus erythematosus (SLE). Doctors watched 286 people with lupus and 64 healthy people over ten years. They found that the weight of the heart's left side, known as the left ventricular mass index (LVMI), is a huge clue for future health.

People with lupus who have a larger, heavier left ventricle or high "bad" cholesterol are at a much greater risk for major heart and brain events. Since heart and blood vessel issues are leading causes of serious problems for those with lupus, getting an echocardiogram (a type of heart scan) can help doctors spot these risks early and keep patients safe.

For more details, see rssapp-lupus-org-news at lupus.org/news/heart-enlargement-measure-may-predict-major-cardiac-and-brain-events-in-people-with-systemic (opens in new tab)