In a recent study published in Rheumatology (Oxford), researchers at UHN’s Schroeder Arthritis Institute (Schroeder) examined how often people with systemic lupus erythematosus (SLE)—commonly known as lupus—develop pericarditis, and what the condition means for long-term health. Lupus is a chronic autoimmune disease in which the immune system mistakenly attacks healthy tissues throughout the body.
Pericarditis is an inflammatory condition of the pericardium, the thin sac of tissue that surrounds the heart. It is one of the most common heart-related complications in people with lupus. If left untreated, pericarditis can lead to serious long-term complications, such as fluid buildup around the heart or thickening and scarring that interfere with normal heart function.
Previous studies have struggled to consistently identify risk factors for pericarditis in lupus or predict disease severity and outcomes. To address this gap, the Schroeder team analysed clinical data from 2,122 patients followed at the University of Toronto Lupus Clinic between 1970 and 2024.
The researchers found that more than 20% of people with lupus experienced pericarditis, with nearly two-thirds of cases occurring within the first year after SLE diagnosis. Individuals diagnosed at a younger age and those with more severe disease were more likely to develop pericarditis.
Most pericarditis episodes resolved within about three months, and serious complications were uncommon. However, about one in six cases became chronic, and roughly one in four patients experienced recurrence.
Overall, these findings provide clearer insight into patterns among people with lupus who develop this potentially serious heart condition. While further research is necessary to confirm these trends and better predict who may experience persistent or recurrent pericarditis, this study lays important groundwork for earlier identification and more informed care for people living with lupus.
The first author of this study is Dr. Pankti Mehta, a rheumatologist at UHN’s Schroeder Arthritis Institute.
The senior author of this study is Dr. Zahi Touma, a Scientist at UHN's Schroeder Arthritis Institute, the Director of the University of Toronto Lupus Clinic at UHN’s Toronto Western Hospital, and an Associate Professor at the University of Toronto Temerty Faculty of Medicine.
Drs. Dafna Gladman and Laura Whittall-Garcia are also co-authors. Dr. Gladman is an Emerita Scientist at UHN’s Schroeder Arthritis Institute and a Professor at the University of Toronto Temerty Faculty of Medicine. Dr. Whittall-Garcia is a Clinician-Scientist at UHN’s Schroeder Arthritis Institute.
This work was supported by Lupus Ontario, the University of Toronto, and UHN Foundation.
Mehta P, Kharouf F, Carrizo-Abarza V, Li Q, Akhtari S, Harvey P, Osuntokun O, Whittall Garcia LP, Gladman DD, Touma Z. Prevalence, clinical associations, and outcomes of pericarditis in systemic lupus erythematosus: insights from the University of Toronto Lupus Clinic. Rheumatology (Oxford). 2025 Dec 13:keaf669. Epub ahead of print.