Abnormal Cardiac Biomarkers in Patients with Systemic Lupus Erythematosus and No Prior Heart Disease: A Consequence of Antimalarials?

OBJECTIVE: Cardiac involvement in systemic lupus erythematosus (SLE) is often undiagnosed in its early phases. Specific heart biomarkers may identify patients at risk. We sought to investigate the prevalence and associated factors for such biomarkers in SLE. METHODS: Brain natriuretic peptide (BNP) and cardiac troponin I (cTnI) were measured simultaneously in 151 consecutive patients with no history of heart disease or pulmonary arterial …