Pulmonary hemorrhage as a manifestation of systemic lupus erythematosus.
The authors report a case of a 19-year-old woman admitted for the investigation of fever and hemolytic anemia for the previous 2 months. As an inpatient, she had convulsions and sudden loss of consciousness, developing hemoptysis, hypoxia, and respiratory insufficiency. Examination showed pericardial effusions on the echocardiogram and bilateral alveolar condensations on the thoracic radiograph. A hypothetical diagnosis of systemic lupus erythematosus was made, and measurement of the antinuclear factor was requested along with daily pulse therapy methylprednisolone, in spite of which the outcome was fatal. Afterwards, the result of the antinuclear factor test was positive, with a titer of 1:5120, showing a fine punctiform pattern, fulfilling the criteria for systemic lupus erythematosus according to the American College of Rheumatology. Secondary pulmonary hemorrhage in this connective tissue disease is an uncommon but serious complication that involves a high level of mortality in spite of intensive treatment, as is also reported in the literature.
Santos
Bruno Hollanda
BH
Medical Clinic Ward, Santa Casa of Belo Horizonte, Belo Horizonte, MG, Brazil.
Santos
Rodrigo Ribeiro
RR
Santos
Celeide Fátima
CF
Kakehasi
Adriana Maria
AM
Von Tiesenhausen
Hermann Alexandre Vivacqua
HA
D000328:Adult; D005260:Female; D006470:Hemorrhage / Q000000981:diagnostic imaging / Q000209:etiology*; D006801:Humans; D008171:Lung Diseases / Q000000981:diagnostic imaging / Q000209:etiology*; D008180:Lupus Erythematosus, Systemic / Q000150:complications* / Q000000981:diagnostic imaging; D011650:Pulmonary Alveoli; D011859:Radiography