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Abstract

Microaneurysms are a common finding in polyarteritis nodosa, but rare in systemic lupus erythematosus. The general prognosis for microaneurysms in systemic lupus erythematosus is not too bad, with only a few reported subarachnoid hemorrhages. We present the patient of a 46-year-old woman complicated with microaneurysm in systemic lupus erythematosus. She was admitted to our hospital because of hypertension and low-grade fever. Anti-ds-DNA antibody was positive and plasma renin activity was elevated markedly. Aortography demonstrated multiple microaneurysms and vascular stenosis in bilateral renal arteries. She was given a diagnosis of lupus vasculitis and was treated with steroids and cytotoxic agents. After administration of prednisolone, cyclophosphamide and angiotensin-converting enzyme inhibitor, low grade fever, anti DNA antibody and blood pressure were normalized. Although this angiographic finding has been considered specific for polyarteritis nodosa, it is suggested that it may be found in a variety of lupus vasculitis. Intraperitoneal microaneurysm was almost no changed in the follow up angiography. She developed subarachnoid hemorrhage in 24 years after onset.

Key words

hypertension, systemic lupus erythematosus, microaneurysm, renal infarction, subarachnoid hemorrhage

Introduction

It has been considered that the angiographic findings of intraperitoneal microaneurysms is common in polyarteritis nodosa (PN). In contrast, intraperitoneal microaneurysm is rare in systemic lupus erythematosus4). Prognosis of microaneurysm in systemic lupus erythematosus is generally good. Several reports showed rupture of microaneurysm as subarachnoid hemorrhage of cerebral and spine [1-3]. A few reports of systemic lupus erythematosus showed renal infarction, but mechanism of vasculitis is not obscure [4-7]. We have experienced the female patient with renal infarction and intraperitoneal microaneurysms with a 24-year history of systemic lupus erythematosus (SLE). She was developed subarachnoid hemorrhage 24 years after onset.

Case report

Patient was pointed out hypertension first at 19 years old and revealed hypertension again at 9 months pregnancy at 21 years old. There was no abnormality in fetal growth and parturition. She visited outpatient clinic of our hospital for examination of hypertension at 23 years old. At a visit finding, she developed low grade fever and body weight loss for few weeks. She had no history. Her father had a systemic lupus erythematosus in family history. When she visited our hospital, she had high blood pressure (BP) of 146/112 mmHg and a body temperature of 37.4℃. On physical examination, there were buccal erythema and splenomegaly, but no sign was seen neurologically. Plasma renin activity (PRA) and serum aldosterone were 6.0 ng/ml/h (normal range 0.2-3.9) and 370 pg/ml (normal range 30-159) at rest in the morning, respectively. White blood cell counts were decreased (2.9 × 10^-9/l). CRP and ESR were slightly elevated, 0.66 (normal range < 0.40) mg/dl and 35 mm/h, respectively. Antinuclear antibody and anti-ds DNA antibody were weakly positive, 80 T and 37 IU/ml (ELISA), respectively. Anti-phospholipid antibody (ELISA), anti-Sm antibody (FEIA), anti-RNP antibody (CLEA), anti-SS DNA antibody (CLEA), anti-SS-B antibody (CLEA), and anti-neutrophil cytoplasmic autoantibodies (C-ANCA, P-ANCA) were negative (FEIA). Hepatitis B virus antigen, anti-hepatitis C virus antibody, and anti-HIV antibody were negative. Complement activity (CH50), C3 and C4 were decreased, 28.1 (normal range < 30.7) U/ml, 61 mg/l and 13 mg/l, respectively. Routine blood chemistry, urinalysis, urine sediments were normal except for a low serum potassium level (3.6 mmol/l). Plasma and urine fraction-free catecholamines and ACTH-cortisol were normal.

An abdominal CT showed left renal infarction and splenomegaly (Figure 1), but neither enlargement of adrenal glands nor an abnormal mass was seen. She underwent aortography, which revealed microaneurysms and vascular stenosis in peripheral branches in bilateral renal arteries, hepatic artery, superior mesenteric artery and inferior mesenteric artery (Figure 2). At the same time, PRA in both renal veins was checked, which were proven to be high bilaterally (right; 9.2, left; 7.4 ng/ml/h, respectively). She was treated with temocapril to control hypertension. The patho-histlogical findings of buccal skin revealed no sign of vasculitis, but direct immnofluorescence test in the sun-protected crural skin demonstrated a positive lupus band test (LBT) [8,9].

Figure 1. Location of renal infarction and splenomegaly in abdominal computed tomographic scan at 24-years old

Figure 2. Aortography at 24-years old demonstrating microaneurysms and vascular stenosis in renal arteries, hepatic artery, superior mesenteric artery and inferior mesenteric artery

As these findings were fulfilled the American Rheumatism Association Criteria for SLE and positive LBT [3], she was given a diagnosis of lupus vasculitis and treated with steroids and cytotoxic agents (prednisolone 60 mg/day, cyclophosphamide 50 mg/day) according to guideline. After treatment, low grade fever, anti-DNA, CH50 and BP were gradually, normalized (Table 1). The 16th hospital week, she was discharged from our hospital with prednisolone 20 mg/day, cyclophosphamide 50 mg/day and temocapril 2.0 mg/day. She received angiography 2 and 6 years later and findings of intraperitoneal microaneurysm was no changed. We changed drugs to prednisolone 10 mg/day and temocapril 4.0 mg/day 1year after treatment. Level of CH50, C3 and C4 was kept in normal range after that. Twenty-four years later she developed a subarachnoid hemorrhage. Cerebral angiography revealed each one microaneurysm in left and right middle cerebral artery.

Table 1. Blood chemistry at 46-year old

WBC	5100/ml	T.Chol	210 mg/dl
RBC	473 × 104/ml	HDL-C	81 mg/dl
Hb	14.7 g/dl	LDL-C	133 mg/dl
Ht	44.2%	TG	140 mg/dl
Plt	20.5 × 104/ml	UA	5.8 mg/dl
Neutr	53.1%	BUN	15.3 mg/dl
Lymph	38.2%	Cr	0.59 mg/dl
Mono	6.5%	Na	138 mEq/l
Eosino	2.0%	K	4.0 mEq/l
Baso	0.2%	Cl	101 mEq/l
BS	122 mg/dl	CRP	0.13 mg/dl
HbA1c	5.9%	ACTH	5.6 pg/ml
T.Prot	7.0 g/dl	Cortisol	13.4 mg/dl
Alb	3.7 g/dl	PRA	6.2 ng/ml/h
T.Bil	0.7 mg/dl	PAC	74.7 pg/ml
D.Bil	0.2 mg/dl	CH50	39 CH50/ml
AST	2 1U/l	anti-ss-DNA Ab	15.7 AU/ml
ALT	24 U/l	anti-ds-DNA-Ab	4.2 IU/ml
ALP	364 U/l	Urine	-
LDH	195 U/l	Prot	-
g-GT	43 U/l	Sugar	-
ChE	380 U/l	Urob	-
CPK	76 U/l	pH	6.0

Discussion

As present case was young female with hypertension, secondary hypertension like as renal or renovascular hypertension was examined. In the first step of basic examination, blood chemistry, PRA, PAC and radiographic examination was carried out to rule out of secondary hypertension. PRA showed extremely high level and renal infarction was fined out in computer tomography. So, we added angiographic study and specific antigen test to determine the vascular lesion and its cause. A　microaneurysym is characteristic clinical picture of PN. In this patient, although anti-Sm antigen was negative, anti-ds DNA antibody was positive and white blood cells were decreased. These results did not fully support SLE [10]. SLE was diagnosed finally by showing LBT positive findings by skin biopsy. Intraperitoneal renal aneurysms have been encountered not only in PN but also in such diseases as arterial hypertension, rheumatoid arthritis, primary biliary cirrhosis, diabetes mellitus, renal carcinoma, fibromuscular dysplasia, temporal arteritis, and SLE [11-14]. Clinical evidence of arterial disease in SLE patients varies considerably from patients to patients. It is an established fact that systemic vasculitis can occur during SLE as other rheumatic diseases, but angiographically demonstrable intraperitoneal renal aneurysm is rare [11].　The pathogenesis of this rare, true inflammatory vasculitis resembling PN may involve mechanisms like those proposed for vasculitis of the PN type [15].

The fact that intramural immune deposits have not yet been found in these lesions and that they may occur in association with the benign mesangial pattern of lupus nephritis makes a role for immune complex deposition unlikely [7].

The initial symptom of this case was renal infarction.　Renal infarction was shown postpartum lupus vasculitis in several previous reports [16] and present case was also postpartum infarction.　And, previous several cases of renal infarction were combined with an antiphospholipid syndrome [4-6], but present case showed negative antiphospholipid titer.　Previous reports showed that complications of subarachnoid hemorrhage are very rare, but the recent whole-body search of SLE showed that the relative risk in SLE was 3.85 [1,2]. The relative risk of stroke was high among individuals under 50 years of age [1]. SAH of Japanese SLE patients occurred more frequently in Western European countries [3]. The present case developed subarachnoid hemorrhage at 46-year old.

Regarding systemic vascular lesions of SLE, the prognosis of patients with vascular lesions of middle arteries and thrombosis is the most important [17]. Certain clinical symptoms, etiology, etiology, and outcome affect treatment strategies.　Previous report showed incidence of SAH of Japanese SLE patients was 1 to 3.9% [18,19]. Most cases of subarachnoid hemorrhage were shown in discontinue of steroid therapy and active SLE [19]. Although this patient continues steroid therapy, subarachnoid hemorrhage was developed. So strict follow-up observation is necessary for cerebral blood vessels in SLE patients.

Conclusion

We experienced rare young female case of intraperitoneal microaneurysm in SLE. First sign of this patient was hypertension, slight fever and weight loss. Renal infarction was the key to clarify the lupus vasculitis. Microaneurysm in SLE was reported to be good prognosis but this case developed arachnoid hemorrhage 24 years after onset. Strict follow-up examination is needed to prevent a stroke due to rupture of microaneurysm.

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