CORONARY-ARTERY DISEASE IN 3 PATIENTS WIT H LUPUS-ERYTHEMATOSUS

Background. Coronary artery disease is an uncommon event in lupus eryt hematosus. The mechanisms responsible for coronary occlusion are proba bly complex and intermixed. We report three patients with lupus erythe matous and antiphospholipid antibodies who had coronary artery disease diagnosed with coronary angiogram. Observations. Coronary artery dise ase occured in three young patients aged from 21 to 35 years 3 to 11 y ears after the onset of lupus. They all had antiphospholipid antibodie s. They had been treated with corticosteroids for 6 to 36 months. Two of them were smokers. Angiograms showed coronary occlusion in mo patie nts while the third one had probable myocardial microvasculopathy. The lupus was quiescent in all cases when coronary artery disease occured . Discussion. Antiphospholipid antibodies associated with smoking may be involved in the pathogenesis of coronary artery disease in these 3 patients.