Frontiers in Cardiovascular Medicine (Oct 2024)

Impact of systemic lupus erythematosus on cardiovascular morphologic and functional phenotypes: a Mendelian randomization analysis

  • Zishan Lin,
  • Zishan Lin,
  • Zishan Lin,
  • Wenfeng Wang,
  • Wenfeng Wang,
  • Wenfeng Wang,
  • Bingjing Jiang,
  • Bingjing Jiang,
  • Bingjing Jiang,
  • Jian He,
  • Yanfang Xu,
  • Yanfang Xu,
  • Yanfang Xu

DOI
https://doi.org/10.3389/fcvm.2024.1454645
Journal volume & issue
Vol. 11

Abstract

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BackgroundPrevious studies have established a correlation between systemic lupus erythematosus (SLE) and cardiovascular health, but the potential causal effects of SLE on heart function and structure remain poorly understood. Cardiovascular magnetic resonance imaging (CMR), a novel non-invasive technique, provides a unique assessment of cardiovascular structure and function, making it an essential tool for evaluating the risk of heart disease. In this study, we performed a Mendelian randomization analysis to determine the causal relationship between SLE and CMR traits.MethodsGenetic variants independently linked to SLE were selected from a genome-wide association study (GWAS) containing 5,201 cases and 9,066 controls as instrumental variables. A set of 82 CMR traits was obtained from a recent GWAS, serving as preclinical indicators and providing preliminary insights into the morphology and function of the four cardiac chambers and two aortic segments. Primary analysis employed a two-sample Mendelian randomization study using the inverse-variance weighted method. Heterogeneity testing, sensitivity analyses, and instrumental variable strength assessments confirmed the robustness of the findings.ResultsSLE exhibited a correlation with increased stroke volume (βLVSV = 0.007, P = 0.045), regional peak circumferential strain (βEcc_AHA_9 = 0.013, P = 0.002; βEcc_AHA_12 = 0.009, P = 0.043; βEcc_AHA_14 = 0.013, P = 0.006), and global peak circumferential strain of the LV (βEcc_global = 0.010, P = 0.022), as well as decreased regional radial strain (βErr_AHA_11 = −0.010, P = 0.017).ConclusionsThis research presents evidence of a potential causal association between traits of SLE and alterations in cardiac function, guiding cardiac examinations and disease prevention in lupus patients.

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