Acute pancreatitis in systemic lupus erythematosus (SLE). Successful treatment with plasmapheresis after failure of prednisone.
A 33-year old Caucasian woman with SLE, who had been treated with chloroquine and non-steroidal anti-inflammatory drugs for one year, suddenly presented with a rapidly progressive exacerbation of SLE featuring fever, arthritis, cutaneous manifestations, cerebral dysfunction, pleuritis, pericarditis and pancreatitis. Clinical deterioration and a rise in the serum amylase occurred during a month of high dose prednisone treatment. Plasmapheresis, while maintaining prednisone at a constant dosage, resulted in a complete remission of all symptoms within four weeks. Plasmapheresis was discontinued and improvement was maintained whilst tapering off prednisone and adding azathioprine.
D000208:Acute Disease; D000328:Adult; D001379:Azathioprine / Q000627:therapeutic use; D004359:Drug Therapy, Combination; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D008180:Lupus Erythematosus, Systemic / Q000150:complications / Q000628:therapy*; D010195:Pancreatitis / Q000209:etiology / Q000628:therapy*; D010956:Plasmapheresis; D011241:Prednisone / Q000627:therapeutic use*; D013997:Time Factors
D001379:Azathioprine; D011241:Prednisone