Rheumatic Diseases Unit and Lupus Clinic, Soroka Medical Center, Beer Sheva, Israel. mahmoud@bgu.ac.il
Atherosclerotic disease is common in systemic lupus erythematosus and is the result of multiple pathogenic mechanisms that include traditional risk factors as well as SLE-related factors. Endothelial dysfunction and arterial stiffness contribute significantly to the atherogenic process. Dobutamine stress echocardiogram has not been shown to detect subclinical coronary artery disease; however, the high percentage of left ventricular outflow gradient requires further evaluation and follows-up studies.