Cardiac damage in autoimmune diseases: Target organ involvement that cannot be ignored

Abstract

Autoimmune diseases are diseases that cause damage to the body’s own tissues as a result of immune dysfunction, often involving multiple organs and systems. The heart is one of the common target organs of autoimmune diseases. The whole structure of the heart can be affected, causing microcirculatory disorders, arrhythmias, pericardial damage, myocarditis, myocardial fibrosis, and impaired valvular function. However, early clinical manifestations of autoimmune heart damage are often overlooked because they are insidious or have no typical features. The damage is often severe and irreversible when symptoms are apparent, even life-threatening. Therefore, early detection and treatment of heart damage in autoimmune diseases is particularly important. Herein, we review the clinical features and mechanisms of cardiac damage in common rheumatic diseases.

Sudden Death Due to Coronary Vasculitis: An Unexpected Autopsy Finding and Unusual Association With Thymic Hyperplasia

“…Individuals with autoimmune disorders often exhibit decreased numbers and impaired function of regulatory T cells, likely contributing to the disruption of vascular immune homeostasis [ 12 ]. The heart frequently becomes a target of autoimmune conditions, leading to various complications, including microcirculatory issues [ 13 ].…”

The rise and fall of troponin in a patient with polymyositis

“…We also know from prior studies6 7 those cardiac abnormalities in patients with PM/DM manifest as cardiac failure; electrocardiographic changes, including non-specific ST changes, and varying forms of atrioventricular block; myocarditis; valve disease or myocardial ischaemia in the presence of normal coronary vasculature. With elevated troponin T, it becomes challenging to not pursue further cardiac work-up to rule out a silent myocardial infarction.…”

A Interação Complexa Entre O Diagnóstico De Doença Autoimune E O Risco De Comprometimento Cardiovascular

“…Além disso, a inflamação persistente gera estresse oxidativo e aumenta a atividade dos fibroblastos, resultando na deposição de colágeno e fibrose intersticial no miocárdio 4 . As manifestações clínicas precoces de dano cardíaco são, muitas vezes, insidiosas ou inespecíficas e, quando os sintomas se manifestam, o dano cardíaco é grave e irreversível 5 .…”