Characteristics of exercise capacity in female systemic lupus erythematosus associated pulmonary arterial hypertension patients.

SLE PAH patients have cardiopulmonary exercise limitation with reduced oxygen uptake efficiency. VO2@ at AT, peak O2 pulse and O2 pulse at AT were significantly reduced (p < 0.05). Key CPET parameters correlated with elevated pulmonary vascular resistance (PVR). Submaximal parameters of oxygen uptake are equally useful in SLE PAH.