CORONARY-ARTERY BYPASS-GRAFTING IN PATIENTS WITH SYSTEMIC LUPUS-ERYTHEMATOSUS - REPORT OF 2 CASES

Systemic lupus erythematosus is an autoimmune disease that often invol ves the cardiovascular system. Coronary artery narrowing in patients w ith lupus erythematosus is severe, progressive, and related to the dur ation of the disease rather than to the age of the patient. Steroid us e in such patients has improved their life expectancy but seems to be increasing the incidence of coronary involvement. Consequently, a larg er number of systemic lupus erythematosus patients may be candidates f or myocardial revascularization in the future. We report our experienc e with myocardial revascularization in 2 women with severe systemic lu pus erythematosus, incapacitating angina, and severe obstructive coron ary artery disease. One of the women required balloon angioplasty 19 m onths after coronary artery bypass grafting and remains asymptomatic n early 3 years later The other patient is free of symptoms 9 months aft er surgery. Our results with these 2 patients are encouraging. Long-te rm follow-up should yield further information regarding the benefits o f myocardial revascularization and coronary angioplasty in patients wi th systemic lupus erythematosus.