OBJECTIVES: The aim of our study is to assess the ventricular-arterial coupling in the patients with systemic lupus erythematosus (SLE) by ultrasound. METHODS: Twenty-Five patients with SLE and twenty age and gender matched healthy subjects were studied. Left ventrical mass index (LVMI), relative wall thickness end-diastolic (RWT), carotid-femoral pulse wave velocity (CFPWV), effective arterial elastance (Ea) and Ea/Ees were measured. RESULTS: Ed in the patients SLE were significantly higher than those in control group (P<0.05), there was no significant difference in Ees and Ea/Ees between two groups (p > 0.05). Ed was correlated positively with Ea (r = 0.472, p < 0.01). RWT was correlated positively with Ed and Ea (r = 0.388, P = 0.016; r = 0.336, P = 0.026). Ed was correlated positively with E/e (r = 0.939, P < 0.01). CFPWV was correlated positively with Ed and E/e and LVMI (r = 0.349, p < 0.05; r = 0.376, p < 0.05; r = 0.323, p < 0.05). diffD% was correlated negatively with E/e and LVMI (r = -0.328, p < 0.05; r = -0.428, p < 0.01). CONCLUSIONS: The structure and function of left ventricle is associated with arterial elastance. Their matching relation can be applied to evaluate ventricular-arterial coupling.