Approach to the patient with cardiac manifestations of rheumatic disease

Abstract

Systemic autoimmune diseases are characterized by abnormal activation of the adaptive and sometimes innate immune system, leading to both systemic and organ-specific inflammation. This can result in organ dysfunction and significant morbidity for patients. Early recognition and treatment of these systemic changes are crucial for the treatment and prevention of further disease progression. Cardiac manifestations of systemic autoimmune diseases are diverse, and their presentation might be subclinical in some patients, leading to underdiagnosis and missed opportunities for providing adequate and timely patient care. It is therefore imperative to maintain a high level of suspicion for cardiac involvement when evaluating patients with any systemic autoimmune disease. This chapter discusses how to evaluate a patient who may have cardiac manifestations of underlying systemic autoimmune disease. The authors explore various diagnostic modalities that can be applied to identify cardiac involvement, along with approaches to the management of such cases.