Aortic Pathology in Systemic Lupus Erythematosus: A Case Report and Review of Literature

Patients with autoimmune disease, and specifically lupus erythematosus, have an increased risk of developing aortic pathology, including aneurysm and dissections. We report a case of a 49-year-old woman with lupus erythematosus treated surgically for an abdominal aortic aneurysm in 2009, who developed type B aortic dissection 1 year later, treated by endovascular means. Dissection furtherly underwent aneurysm evolution, and the patient finally was brought to vascular attention with a fatal thoracic aneurysm rupture. A review of literature of cases of aortic aneurysm and dissection in patients with lupus erythematosus published between 2009 and 2016 has been added.