A patient with systemic lupus erythematosus (SLE) may be at increased risk for acute myocardial infarction (AMI). AMI can kill a patient with SLE even at a young age.
Risk factors for acute myocardial infarction in a patient with SLE:
(1) arteritis
(2) coronary artery aneurysm (secondary to arteritis)
(3) hypercoagulability with thrombosis
(4) smoking
(5) atherosclerosis
(6) stimulant abuse (cocaine, etc)
Acute ischemia needs to be differentiated from acute myocarditis.
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