RATE OF OCCURRENCE AND PROGNOSTICATORS OF PULMONARY HYPERTENSION AMONG PATIENTS SUFFERING FROM SYSTEMIC LUPUS ERYTHEMATOSUS

Objective: The aim of this research work is to determine the rate of occurrence and prognosticators of pulmonary HTN (Hypertension) among patients suffering from Systemic Lupus Erythematosus.

Methodology: This research work was carried out at Hayatabad Medical Complex, Peshawar from July 2019 to December 2019. In this study 97 patients who fulfilled the standard of ACR (American College of Rheumatology) for systemic lupus erythematosus got recruitment for this research work. The measurement of PAH (Pulmonary Arterial Hypertension) was carried out with the calculation of the pulmonary arterial SBP (Systolic Blood Pressure) through ECG (Echocardiography) by cardiologist. We collected the characteristics of demography and disease in an organized Performa. We defined the Pulmonary Arterial Hypertension as average pulmonary arterial pressure of 25.0 mmHg or more measured with the help of a formula. We used SPSS V.23 for the statistical analysis of the collected information.

Results: Out of 97 patients, 89.70% (n: 87) patients were females and 10.30% (n: 10) patients were male, with an average age of 31.290 ±8.824 years. The average duration of the disease was 24.210 ±30.460 months. We found the Pulmonary Arterial Hypertension in 23.30% (n: 23) patients, including four males and nineteen females. On further examination of the data, we assessed the Raynaud phenomenon, nephritis and rheumatoid factor as prognosticators of the Pulmonary Arterial Hypertension and all of these factors displayed significance statistically for the availability of the Pulmonary Arterial Hypertension according to Chi-square test (P<0.050).

Conclusion: In this research work, 23.30% patients of systemic lupus erythematosus showed the presence of Pulmonary Arterial Hypertension and we also found a strong statistical significance between prognosticators as Raynaud phenomenon, nephritis, rheumatoid factor and availability of Pulmonary Arterial Hypertension. So, it is much important to diagnose the presence of Pulmonary Arterial Hypertension fast and timely treatment to obtain the best QoL (Quality of Life).

KEYWORDS: Systemic Lupus Erythematosus, Echocardiography, Hypertension, Systolic Blood Pressure, Demography, Prognosticators, Nephritis, Rheumatoid Factor.