Rare manifestation of large-vessel arteriitis in systemic lupus erythematosus

Case-reports from two female patients with an occlusion of the right extern al iliac artery and femoral artery are presented due to a large-vessel vasc ulitis. Both patients suffered from systemic lupus erythematosus This rare manifestation occured within the first few years of the disease and was imp ortant for prognosis and further treatment. Other manifestations of the dis ease were general symptoms and polyarthritis. In one case the vascultitis w as confirmed by histology. A fibrous thickening of the intima and a vasculitis of small vessels within the adventitia were the prominent feature. This observation supports the i dea of small vessel vasculitis as the characteristic manifestation in lupus erythematosus.