Abstract

VECINO-MORENO, Milly J. et al. Myocardial lesion in a patient with systemic lupus erythematosus: A diagnostic challenge. Rev. Colomb. Cardiol. [online]. 2021, vol.28, n.6, pp.634-638.  Epub Jan 07, 2022. ISSN 0120-5633.  https://doi.org/10.24875/rccar.m21000105.

A 37-year-old woman with a history of systemic lupus erythematosus (SLE), pulmonary thromboembolism and deep vein thrombosis consulted for chest pain, with findings of elevated troponin, left ventricular systolic dysfunction, and segmental contractility abnormalities, as well as elevated anti-DNA and complement consumption. Coronary angiography showed severe stenosis of the middle third of the anterior descending artery, which was treated with angioplasty plus a medicated stent. Cardiac magnetic resonance imaging revealed an extensive acute myocardial infarction in the area supplied by the anterior descending artery, without myocarditis. Cardiac involvement in SLE was ruled out, immunosuppressive treatment was maintained, coronary disease treatment was added, and she was discharged due to improvement. Identifying the causes of myocardial insult in a patient with SLE is challenging, given the multiple possibilities across the cardiac involvement spectrum, in which several structures may be affected. Myocarditis and pericarditis are considered to be the most frequent, but coronary involvement cannot be ruled out, regardless of age or the presence of traditional risk factors, since the inflammatory component of the autoimmune disease accelerates the development of atherosclerosis. Multimodal diagnostics and an interdisciplinary approach are necessary to clarify the mechanism of injury and provide targeted treatment.

Keywords : Systemic lupus erythematosus; Cardiac involvement; Diagnosis.

        · abstract in Spanish     · text in Spanish     · Spanish ( pdf )