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    Clin Rheumatol. 2005 Apr;24(2):162-5. Epub 2004 Oct 26.

    Variable atrioventricular block in systemic lupus erythematosus.

    Liautaud S, Khan AJ, Nalamasu SR, Tan IJ, Onwuanyi AE.

    Division of Pulmonary and Critical Care, Department of Medicine, Mount Sinai School of Medicine, 164-04, 85th Avenue, Jamaica, NY 11432, USA. lsybille67@hotmail.com

    Systemic lupus erythematosus (SLE), a connective tissue disease characterized by the production of auto-antibodies and immune complexes, can affect all organs including the heart. The involvement of the conduction system in SLE has been less commonly described. We report a case of an asymptomatic 45-year-old woman with SLE referred to the emergency department (ED) for thrombocytopenia, and was found to have alternating first- and second-degree atrioventricular block (AVB) during routine electrocardiographic screening for hospital admission. Serial electrocardiograms (ECG) done in the ED when compared to those recorded 24 h prior revealed progression from mild first-degree AVB (PR interval = 216 ms) to significant first-degree AVB (PR interval = 510 ms), followed by second-degree AVB (Mobitz type I-Wenckebach phenomenon). The conduction abnormalities recorded over a 28-h period resolved with corticosteroid treatment. Review of the literature on the disruption of the cardiac conduction system in SLE is discussed.

    PMID: 15517446 [PubMed - indexed for MEDLINE]

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