Persistent dyspnea and leg edema.
This case illustrates a complexity of confounding and overlapping symptoms that can masquerade as another diagnosis. A 56-year-old African American man with persistent dyspnea and leg edema was hospitalized three times in a period of 6 months. The patient was treated for asthma, chronic obstructive pulmonary disease, and congestive heart failure. Hypertension and peptic ulcer disease were treated also. Complete clinical improvement was not observed. A careful review of his last admission and current admission clinical presentation and laboratory evaluation revealed a systemic manifestation and laboratory findings consistent with atypical systemic lupus erythematosus.
Nguyen
Khoi Duc
KD
New York College of Osteopathic Medicine, Old Westbury, New York 11568, USA. knguye01@nyit.edu
Frieri
Marianne
M
D001249:Asthma / Q000175:diagnosis; D003937:Diagnosis, Differential; D004417:Dyspnea / Q000209:etiology*; D004487:Edema / Q000209:etiology*; D006333:Heart Failure / Q000175:diagnosis; D006801:Humans; D007866:Leg / Q000473:pathology; D008180:Lupus Erythematosus, Systemic / Q000175:diagnosis*; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D029424:Pulmonary Disease, Chronic Obstructive / Q000175:diagnosis