Prolongation de l’intervalle QT corrigé chez les adultes atteints de lupus érythémateux disséminé porteurs de l’anticorps anti-Ro/SSA
QT interval prolongation on the electrocardiogram is a risk factor for ventricular arrhythmias and sudden cardiac death. This abnormality is found in patients with systemic lupus erythematosus and could contribute to the high cardiovascular mortality rate in this population. Anti-Ro/SSA is an auto-antibody presents in about 30% of lupus patients and is associated with congenital cardiac block. This auto-antibody could also increase the risk of pathologic prolongation of the QT interval in adults.   This master’s thesis is comprised of five chapters discussing the potential association between anti-Ro/SSA antibody and QT interval prolongation. The first chapter is an introduction to the essential elements for the understanding of the study project. The second chapter is a literature review of the potential link between anti-Ro/SSA and QT interval prolongation. The third chapter presents the study project through an article published in Arthritis Care and Research.  In this study, patients from the McGill lupus cohort were invited to undergo electrocardiograms in order to estimate the association between anti-Ro/SSA antibody and electrocardiographic abnormalities, while taking into account the other potentially associated demographic and clinical factors. This study shows an association between anti-Ro/SSA and prolonged QT interval (Odds ratios: 5.1 to 12.6) and patients positive for anti-Ro/SSA may thus benefit from electrocardiographic testing. Strengths and weaknesses of this article are discussed in the fourth chapter and future research areas are finally explored.
Connectivite Lupus Anti-Ro/SSA QT Connective tissue disease Lupus Autoimmunity Anti-Ro/SSA Heart disease Arrhythmia QT