title: Intestinal ischemia in systemic lupus erythematosus.
abstract: Bowel ischemia, an uncommon but devastating complication of systemic lupus erythematosus (SLE), poses a significant clinical challenge. A 52-year-old female with SLE presented with recurrent abdominal pain for two months which culminated in acute, severe pain with vomiting. Abdominal CT scan revealed ischemia of multiple segments of bowel. She responded slowly to methylprednisolone alone and eventually responded to methylprednisolone combined with cyclophosphamide. A high index of suspicion for bowel ischemia is required in patients with SLE presenting with acute abdominal pain.
authors.affiliation: Department of Medicine, University of the West Indies, Kingston, Jamaica. michael.lee@uwimona.edu.jm
authors.forename: Michael G
authors.initials: MG
authors.lastname: Lee
authors.forename: Karlene
authors.initials: K
authors.lastname: Hagley
authors.forename: Karel
authors.initials: K
authors.lastname: Decuaelar
mesh_terms: D000006:Abdomen, Acute / Q000188:drug therapy / Q000209:etiology; D003520:Cyclophosphamide / Q000008:administration & dosage; D004359:Drug Therapy, Combination; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D007422:Intestines / Q000098:blood supply*; D007511:Ischemia / Q000000981:diagnostic imaging / Q000188:drug therapy* / Q000209:etiology*; D008180:Lupus Erythematosus, Systemic / Q000150:complications*; D008638:Mesenteric Arteries; D008775:Methylprednisolone / Q000008:administration & dosage; D008875:Middle Aged; D014057:Tomography, X-Ray Computed; D016896:Treatment Outcome
chemical_list: D003520:Cyclophosphamide; D008775:Methylprednisolone