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Rapidly progressive aortic aneurysmal dilation in a child with systemic lupus erythematosus: too early too severe
Soha Rached-d'Astous1, Nagib Dahdah1, Pierre Brochu2
1Division of Pediatric Cardiology, CHU Sainte-Justine, University of Montreal, Canada.
Insights
Systemic lupus erythematosus (SLE) in children can lead to rare but serious thoracic aortic aneurysms. Early monitoring and management strategies are crucial for pediatric SLE patients to prevent this cardiovascular complication.
Area of Science:
- Pediatric Rheumatology
- Cardiovascular Medicine
- Vascular Surgery
Background:
- Systemic lupus erythematosus (SLE) affects 10-20% of children, often presenting with severe disease.
- Cardiovascular complications are frequent in pediatric SLE, but thoracic aortic aneurysms are rare.
Observation:
- A 9-year-old SLE patient with significant renal disease developed a thoracic aortic aneurysm.
- The patient required aortic replacement surgery for aneurysm treatment.
Findings:
- Vasculitis is implicated in the pathophysiology, causing medial degeneration and fibrosis leading to aneurysm formation.
- This case underscores the rarity of thoracic aortic aneurysms in pediatric SLE.
Implications:
- Highlights the need for vigilant thoracic aorta monitoring in children with SLE.
- Emphasizes the necessity for developing early management strategies for this severe complication in pediatric SLE.
Abstract:
About 10-20% of systemic lupus erythematosus cases occur in children, often with more severe features at onset and more active disease over time compared with adults. Cardiovascular complications are common in this population but thoracic aortic aneurysms rarely occur. Although the pathophysiology of this complication remains unclear, vasculitis seems to play an important role, leading to degeneration and fibrosis of the media and formation of the aneurysm. We report the case of a 9-year-old systemic lupus erythematosus patient with important renal involvement, who underwent aortic replacement surgery for the treatment of an aortic aneurysm. This case highlights the importance of monitoring the thoracic aorta in children with systemic lupus erythematosus and the need for the development of appropriate early management strategies for this serious complication.
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