Renal Infarction in Antiphospholipid Antibody-negative Pediatric Systemic Lupus Erythematosus Patient

Abstract

Systemic lupus erythematosus (SLE) is an autoimmune disease affecting multiple organ systems, and is characterized by the deposition of immune complexes and a large array of autoantibodies. Thrombosis is a relatively frequent and serious complication of SLE; however, renal infarction in young patients with antiphospholipid antibody-negative lupus has rarely been reported, and no pediatric case has been reported in Korea. A 12-year-old female patient was presented to our hospital with a 3-day history of nausea, vomiting, and right flank pain. She was diagnosed with SLE and lupus nephritis two years ago and was treated with corticosteroids and hydroxychloroquine, azathioprine. Abdominal computed tomography (CT) showed renal infarction in the upper pole of the right kidney. Subcutaneous low molecular weight heparin was started, and warfarin was also started simultaneously and continued for 3 months. After 3 months, only minimal atrophic changes were seen on the abdominal CT. She is doing well by maintaining oral anticoagulant therapy and is being followed up regularly through outpatient clinic visits.