Heart disease is the leading cause of death among people with lupus. The most common way that lupus affects the heart is inflammation of the sac that surrounds your heart, which is called pericarditis. This can cause sharp pain in the chest and shortness of breath. While this inflammation doesn’t damage the heart’s ability to function, long-term inflammation could hinder the heart’s efficiency at pumping blood due to scar tissue.  Lupus can affect the heart in more serious ways as well.

Source:

Lupus Foundation of America