257.Coronary artery aneurysms associated with SLE

In patients with SLE, the development of coronary artery aneurysms may be due to recurrent episodes of vasculitis in patients taking corticosteroids.  The steroids prevent repair of the coronary arteries, they are irreparably weakened and result in aneurysms.  However, aneurysms can also occur in the absence of steroid therapy.  Aneurysms of the interlobular and arcuate renal arteries can also occur, which are indistinguishable from those of polyarteritis nodosa.

Surgical treatment of coronary artery aneurysms is bypass grafting.  This yields a prognosis similar to that of patients undergoing bypass grafting for coronary artery disease.

Notes:

1. aneurysm [ˈænjəˌrɪzəm] n. 动脉瘤

2. vasculitis [ˌvæskjə'laɪtɪs] n. 脉管炎，血管炎

3. corticosteroid [ˌkɔ:tɪkoʊs'tɪrɔɪd] 糖皮质激素

4. steroid [ˈstɪrˌɔɪd, ˈstɛr-] n. [生化] 甾类化合物，类固醇

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