Right Heart Failure Due to Chronic Thromboembolic Pulmonary Hypertension in Systemic Lupus Erythematosus Patient: A Case Report
November 2021
in “
European Heart Journal Supplements
”
Studysummary This case report describes a woman with systemic lupus erythematosus who developed chronic thromboembolic pulmonary hypertension, leading to improved right heart function after treatment with diuretics, anticoagulants, corticosteroids, and immunosuppressants. Our plain-language summary of this paper — not a Tressless recommendation.
A 29-year-old female with systemic lupus erythematosus (SLE) presented with symptoms of right heart failure, including bilateral ankle edema, abdominal bloating, and progressive dyspnea, along with hair loss and facial redness. Physical and diagnostic examinations revealed signs of right heart dysfunction and a pulmonary artery filling defect. Elevated D-dimer, ANA titer, and lupus anticoagulant ratio were noted. Treatment with diuretics, anticoagulants, corticosteroids, and immunosuppressants improved her right heart function. The case highlights the increased thrombosis risk in SLE due to antiphospholipid antibodies, inflammation, and disease activity, leading to chronic thromboembolic pulmonary hypertension (CTEPH) and subsequent right heart failure.
