title: Acute pulmonary edema as the initial hospital presentation of systemic lupus erythematosus.
abstract: Acute pulmonary edema is an unusual initial presentation for systemic lupus erythematosus. A 46-year-old woman required intensive care for life-threatening pulmonary edema of unknown etiology, which was unresponsive to conventional treatment. Her condition improved only when pulse corticosteroid therapy was initiated, with clinical and echocardiographic improvement in cardiac function. The diagnosis of systemic lupus erythematosus was then made, based on immunologic tests and renal biopsy. The patient's condition remained stable only with continuation of appropriate therapy for systemic lupus erythematosus.
authors.affiliation: Department of Medicine, Sir Mortimer B. Davis Jewish General Hospital, McGill University, Montreal, Quebec.
authors.forename: S
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: Freter
authors.forename: M
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Davidman
authors.forename: D D
authors.initials: DD
authors.lastname: Bercovitch
authors.forename: M
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Brisson
mesh_terms: D000208:Acute Disease; D001706:Biopsy; D004562:Electrocardiography; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D007158:Immunologic Techniques; D007668:Kidney / Q000473:pathology; D008168:Lung / Q000000981:diagnostic imaging; D008180:Lupus Erythematosus, Systemic / Q000175:diagnosis*; D008875:Middle Aged; D011654:Pulmonary Edema / Q000175:diagnosis* / Q000000981:diagnostic imaging; D011859:Radiography