title: Pneumococcal sepsis in patients with systemic lupus erythematosus.
abstract: Severe infections by opportunistic agents and common pathogens are frequent in patients suffering from systemic lupus erythematosus (SLE) and have become one of the leading cause of death. Here we review all cases of Streptococcus pneumoniae septicaemia observed in a cohort of 208 SLE patients. Five cases were identified. We stress the severity of the clinical presentation and recommend immunization of SLE patients with a pneumococcal polysaccharide vaccine.
authors.affiliation: Rheumatology Department, Cliniques Universitaires Saint-Luc, Université Catholique de Louvain, Bruxelles, Belgium.
authors.forename: C
authors.initials: C
authors.lastname: Naveau
authors.forename: F A
authors.initials: FA
authors.lastname: Houssiau
mesh_terms: D000293:Adolescent; D000328:Adult; D002648:Child; D004660:Encephalitis / Q000150:complications* / Q000473:pathology; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D008180:Lupus Erythematosus, Systemic / Q000150:complications* / Q000473:pathology; D008279:Magnetic Resonance Imaging; D008875:Middle Aged; D011008:Pneumococcal Infections / Q000150:complications* / Q000473:pathology; D018805:Sepsis / Q000150:complications* / Q000473:pathology; D012720:Severity of Illness Index; D013296:Streptococcus pneumoniae