Cardiac Manifestations of Systemic Lupus Erythematosus

Systemic lupus erythematosus (SLE) is a chronic autoimmune disorder that manifests with multiorgan inflammation. Cardiac involvement is common, with manifestation that include pericarditis, myocarditis, conduction defects, valvular disease, and coronary artery disease. In addition to cardiac disease in adults with SLE, the children of women with SLE can develop neonatal lupus by passive transfer of autoantibodies across the placenta. This article describes the cardiac manifestations of SLE and highlights some key unanswered questions about the disease and its pathogenesis.