Abstract
A case of systemic lupus erythematosus (SLE) associated with fever, heart failure, and left ventricular (LV) aneurysm is reported. A diagnosis of SLE was suspected owing to the presence of active lymphocytic myocarditis and fibrinous endocarditis at LV endomyocardial biopsy and was confirmed by identification of 4 of the 11 criteria proposed by the American Rheumatism Association for the definition of SLE. A 2-month period of steroid therapy was followed by a remarkable recovery of LV function and progression of endomyocarditis to a healed phase at control LV biopsy. The LV aneurysm disappeared, likely because thrombosis occurred as a result of the hypercoagulable state accompanying the presence of anticardiolipin antibodies. This is the first reported case of LV aneurysm induced by SLE and is a rare clinicohistologic documentation of the effectiveness of steroid treatment on lupus endomyocarditis.
Original language | English |
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Pages (from-to) | 282-284 |
Number of pages | 3 |
Journal | Chest |
Volume | 109 |
Issue number | 1 |
Publication status | Published - 1996 |
Keywords
- cardiac aneurysm
- endomyocarditis
- systemic lupus erythematosus
ASJC Scopus subject areas
- Pulmonary and Respiratory Medicine