A 24-year-old woman developed malignant hypertension while on oral contraceptives (OCs). She was found to have incomplete systemic lupus erythematosus (SLE) with DNA antibodies and high levels of antiphospholipid antibodies (APLA). She later developed SLE and has had three miscarriages and a cerebellar infarction.
PIP: Reported is the case of a 24-year-old Finnish woman who developed malignant hypertension while taking an oral contraceptive (OC) that contained 30 mcg of ethinyl estradiol. She presented with blurred vision, but reported no other remarkable signs or symptoms during the 5 months in which she had been using OCs. Laboratory tests at admission revealed incomplete systemic lupus erythematosus (SLE) with DNA antibodies and high levels of antiphospholipid antibodies. Her blood pressure was 220-140 mmHg. OC use was discontinued and antihypertensive treatment initiated, with good results. 2 years later, however, the patient developed epileptic seizures and an area of local atrophy in the cerebellum was identified through computerized tomography. In the 4-6th years after initial presentation, the patient experienced 3 miscarriages, all at 7-8 weeks of gestation. 1 year after presentation, the patient satisfied 4 of the criteria for SLE (positive DNA and antiphospholipid antibodies, thrombocytopenia, leukopenia, and proteinuria). At present, the patient's symptoms are being controlled with carbamazepine and metroprolol. The patient's older sister, who had never used OCs, had SLE. It appears that high levels of antiphospholipid antibodies are an additional risk factor for the development of vascular complications in OC users but are not induced by OCs. Similarly, while OCs are not believed to cause SLE, they can exacerbate the disease or unmask a lupus diathesis.