Holter monitoring in patients with systemic lupus erythematosus: Evaluation of dysauthonomia

The aim of this study was to assess heart rate variability (HRV) and QT int erval characteristics in patients with systemic lupus erythematosus (SLE.). The authors examined a group of 25 patients with different activity of SLE in good overall cardiovascular health, and compared the results,vith those in a group of 25 healthy volunteers. In all patients from both groups, sta ndard ECG and 24-h ECG Holter monitoring were performed. Concerning HRV, si gnificantly lower mean values were detected in SLE patients than in control subjects: SDNN 131 vs. 170, SDNNI 45 vs. 75, SDANN 123 vs. 152, rMSSD 24 v s. 54, pNN50 5.5 vs. 21. The mean values of QT (375 ms), QTc (410 ms), and QTd (39 ms) did not exceed normal values. The mean heart rate was 82 +/- 3 beats/min. It was concluded that lower values of HRV in SLE patients than i n control subjects may suggest that autonomic dysfunction is one of the fir st symptoms of cardiac involvement. Analysis of HRV appears to be one of th e first tests that can establish the incidence of cardiac autonomic regulat ion system malfunction in patients with SLE. Apart from a tendency to tachy cardia, no other significant disturbances of cardiac function were found am ong the patients with SLE.