Digital vascular manifestations in SLE: a case report and review of literature for prognostic evaluation of cardiovascular manifestations in SLE

ABSTRACT

A young patient was seen at our Department of Vascular Surgery with secondary Raynaud's disease of a short duration, characterised by digital ischaemia of upper and lower limbs. Family history was positive. Investigations revealed presence of collagen disease. The most likely diagnosis was Systemic Lupus Erythematosus. The patient was treated with steroids and responded well by clinical [loss of symptoms and signs] and laboratory parameters [Falling ESR, lowered C3 and improved digital circulation on doppler flow studies]. Since the cardiovascular manifestations are prognostically important in the overall management, appropriate literature was reviewed and quoted here