Coronary artery disease in patients with systemic lupus erythematosus.

BACKGROUND: A 24-year-old woman with an 11-year history of systemic lupus erythematosus presented with exacerbation of chronic abdominal pain followed by substernal chest pain. She had a history of pericarditis secondary to systemic lupus erythematosus and of varicella-zoster reactivation secondary to immunosuppression. Long-term medications included prednisolone, hydroxychloroquine, aspirin, and mycophenolate mofetil. INVESTIGATIONS: Physical examination, mesenteric angiography, CT of the abdomen, esophagogastroduodenoscopy, colonoscopy, pelvic ultrasound, laboratory testing, serologic testing, cardiac echocardiography, electrocardiography and coronary angiography. DIAGNOSIS: Acute myocardial infarction secondary to severe multivessel atherosclerotic coronary artery disease. MANAGEMENT: Intra-aortic balloon pump followed by emergent four-vessel coronary artery bypass grafting. Aspirin, hydroxychloroquine, and mycophenolate mofetil were continued and a judicious tapering of prednisolone was initiated.