[Acute coronary syndrome in a 17-year-old female with systemic lupus erythematosus].

A 17-year-old female was admitted to the hospital with epigastric pain radiating into the chest and neck. The patient had a known, long-standing history of systemic lupus erythematosus (SLE) with predominantly renal involvement. Diagnostic examinations including left heart catheterization showed acute myocardial infarction based on a coronary three-vessel disease. Percutaneous transluminal coronary angioplasty (PTCA) with dilatation of the left marginal branch and the left posterolateral branch was performed. 8 weeks after PTCA, the patient was admitted again showing occlusion of the same coronary artery. A coronary stent was implanted which, after 8 weeks, also showed signs of occlusion. This case report describes premature myocardial infarction in a young woman with SLE and addresses and discusses the problem that myocardial infarction in SLE can be caused by atherosclerosis and/or arteritis of the coronary arteries.