Myocardial infarct in a child with systemic lupus erythematosus
S. Ishikawa, W. E. Segar, E. F. Gilbert, P. M. Burkholder, J. M. Levy and C. Viseskul
An unusual case of systemic lupus erythematosus (SLE) in a young child is
reported with sudden death from myocardial infarction. The diagnosis of
lupus erythematosus in this patient was made by renal biopsy at the age of
3 years. Atherosclerosis of the coronary arteries and aorta was found at
autopsy with occlusion of the anterior descending branch of the left
coronary artery. It is suggested that the vascular changes in this case
were related to hypertriglyceridemia and prolonged prednisone therapy
superimposed on a hypersensitivity vasculitis related to SLE.
