ROSUVASTATIN INFLUENCE ON HEART RHYTHM DISORDERS IN SYSTEMIC LUPUS ERYTHEMATOSUS PATIENTS ACCORDING TO CARDIAC MONITORING
The study was undertaken to estimate heart rhythm disorders prevalence in systemic lupus erythematosus (SLE) patients and to investigate the effects of rosuvastatin (mertenil) on cardiac monitoring variables parameters in SLE patients with subclinical atherosclerosis. We have examined 96 SLE patients compared to healthy subjects (n = 30). SLE patients with an abnormal lipidogram and/or increase of carotid intima-media complex thickness (n = 53) were further divided into 2 subgroups. Patients in one of the subgroups were treated with 10 mg of rosuvastatin in addition to standard therapy for 12 months. At the baseline SLE patiens showed a significant increase of supraventricular and ventricular extrasystoles, including high-grade ventricular extrasystoles by B. Lown and M. Wolf, and daily quantity of extrasystoles when compared to healthy subjects. According to data obtained after a 12-month follow-up period SLE patients treated with rosuvastatin showed a significant reduction in supraventricular extrasystoles frequency, decrease of daily quantity of both types of extrasystoles and ventricular extrasystoles grades. The results of our study demonstrate the positive influence of rosuvastatin oh heart rhythm disorders in SLE patients.