Systemic lupus erythematosus presenting with pulmonary hypertention and renovascular hypertention-association with anti-cardiolipin antibodies

We describe here a 25-year-old male patient with systemic lupus erythematosus (SLE), who presented with pulmonary hypertention and renovascular hypertention, which were diagnosed by electrocardiography (ECG) and cardiac catheterization and by elevated plasma renin activity and decreased renal blood flows on renogram, respectively. Serum anticardiolipin (CL) antibody and anti-CL/β2-glycoprotein I (β2GPI) antibody were also positive on admission. After treatment with prednisolone (30mg/day), aspirin, ticlopidine, a calcium blocker and an angiotensin converting enzyme inhibitor, he recovered from the manifestations with improvement of ECG findings. Of note, serum anti-CL antibody and anti-CL/β2GPI antibody also disappeared along with his recovery from the manifestations. The course of our patient therefore suggest that serum anti-CL (anti-CL/β2GPI) antibody might be involved in the development of pulmonary hypertension and renovascular hypertension.