Right Heart Failure Due to Chronic Thromboembolic Pulmonary Hypertension in Systemic Lupus Erythematosus Patient: A Case Report
November 2021
in “
European Heart Journal Supplements
”
TLDR SLE can increase the risk of blood clots, leading to heart failure, but treatment can improve heart function.
This case report discusses a 29-year-old female patient with systemic lupus erythematosus (SLE) who developed right heart failure due to chronic thromboembolic pulmonary hypertension (CTEPH). The patient presented with symptoms including bilateral ankle edema, abdominal bloating, dyspnea, hair loss, and facial redness. Diagnostic tests revealed right heart dysfunction and a pulmonary artery obstruction. Treatment with diuretics, anticoagulants, corticosteroids, and immunosuppressants improved her right heart function. The report highlights the increased risk of thrombosis in SLE patients due to factors like antiphospholipid antibodies and inflammation, leading to CTEPH and subsequent right heart failure.