OBJECTIVETo investigate the clinical manifestations, diagnosis and interventions of pulmonary hypertension (PAH) in patients with systemic lupus erythematosus (SLE).

METHODSFrom January 2001 to December 2007, 798 SLE patients without prior diagnosis were admitted in our hospital, among whom 39 were identified to have concomitant PAH defined by echocardiography. The clinical data of the 39 cases were analyzed retrospectively.

RESULTSThe incidence of PAH was 4.9% in these cohort of SLE patients. The 39 SLE patients with concomitant PAH included 5 men and 34 women with a mean age of 34-/+12 years. Positive correlations were found between the occurrence of PAH and the Raynaud phenomenon, fingertip vasculitis, anti-u1RNP antibody positivity, antiphospholipid antibody positivity, pericardial effusion, and interstitial pneumonia (P < 0.05). Patients with higher scores for SLE Disease Activity Index were liable to PAH. The presence of Raynaud phenomenon, fingertip vasculitis, anti-u1RNP antibody positivity, antiphospholipid antibody positivity, pericardial effusion, and interstitial pneumonia is correlated to greater severity PAH with poor prognosis.

CONCLUSIONPAH is not a rare concomitant disease in SLE patients. The presence of Raynaud phenomenon, fingertip vasculitis, anti-u1RNP antibody positivity, antiphospholipid antibody positivity, pericardial effusion, and interstitial pneumonia all suggest the likeliness of PAH in SLE patients, and echocardiographic examination may help derive an early diagnosis.