Complete Heart Block in an Adult with Systemic Lupus Erythematosus

Abstract

Report of a case of complete heart block in a patient with systemic lupus erythematosus (SLE). The cardiac disturbance presented as repeated syncopal episodes and normal cardiac clinical and electrocardiographic examination between these episodes. Circulating anti-U1RNP antibodies were detected and tests for anti-SSA/Ro, anti-SSB/La and antiphospholipid antibodies were negative. Evidence of myocarditis was not found. The diagnosis was just established when the patient developed a syncopal episode during hospitalization. Only one SLE case with a similar clinical course has been reported previously.