Systemic lupus erythematosus with coronary vasculitis and massive myocardial infarction. A case report

A 32-year-old white woman presented with angina pectoris and an acute myocardial infarction (MI) complicated by congestive cardiac failure. Other symptoms and results of immunological investigation were highly suggestive of systemic lupus erythematosus (SLE). Thallium-201 scintigraphy confirmed an extensive MI, as initially suspected from an ECG. Cardiac catheterization delineated a poorly contracting left ventricle secondary to MI. Selective coronary angiography showed features suspicious of coronary arteritis involving the left anterior descending and left circumflex coronary arteries. Right ventricular endomyocardial biopsy failed to show any 'small-vessel disease', vasculitis or myocarditis. We suggest that the acute MI was caused by coronary arteritis due to SLE. Overview of the literature indicates that coronary arteritis is not as rare a complication of SLE as previously believed; however, acute MI is most unusual.