[Ruptured descending aortic aneurysm in a young woman with systemic lupus erythematosus]

We report here a case of ruptured descending aortic aneurysm in a 35-year-old woman with systemic lupus erythematosus (SLE). She was diagnosed with SLE in 1985, and had been receiving steroid therapy for 23 years. In February 2009, she presented with sudden back pain. Computed tomography (CT) scan showed the presence of descending aortic aneurysm, 50 mm in maximum diameter, and a hematoma in the posterior mediastinum. Emergency of the replacement descending aorta was performed. She was discharged from our hospital 69 days after the operation without significant postoperative complications. It is concluded that early operation should be performed for aortic aneurysm in the patients using steroids.