title: Tuberculosis infection causing intestinal perforations in 2 patients with systemic lupus erythematosus.
abstract: Patients with systemic lupus erythematosus (SLE) have a higher incidence rate of tuberculosis and a more frequent extrapulmonary involvement than the general population. We present 2 SLE patients who developed gastrointestinal tuberculosis complicated with intestinal perforation, a rare but serious complication that could be confused with lupus-associated intestinal vasculitis. Opportunistic infections such as tuberculosis must be suspected in SLE patients with abdominal symptoms on immunosuppressive therapy because its early recognition could prevent catastrophic complications such as intestinal perforation and subsequent peritonitis.
authors.affiliation: From the *Sección de Reumatología, Universidad de Antioquia, Hospital Universitario San Vicente Fundación; †Hospital Pablo Tobón Uribe; and ‡Sección de Inmunogenética, Universidad de Antioquia, Medellín, Colombia.
authors.forename: Luis A
authors.initials: LA
authors.lastname: González
authors.forename: Carolina
authors.initials: C
authors.lastname: Muñoz
authors.forename: Mauricio
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Restrepo
authors.forename: Adriana Lucía
authors.initials: AL
authors.lastname: Vanegas
authors.forename: Gloria
authors.initials: G
authors.lastname: Vásquez
mesh_terms: D000328:Adult; D000995:Antitubercular Agents / Q000627:therapeutic use; D003131:Combined Modality Therapy; D005500:Follow-Up Studies; D006801:Humans; D007416:Intestinal Perforation / Q000209:etiology*; D007813:Laparotomy / Q000379:methods; D008180:Lupus Erythematosus, Systemic / Q000150:complications / Q000175:diagnosis* / Q000628:therapy; D008297:Male; D009169:Mycobacterium tuberculosis / Q000302:isolation & purification; D018570:Risk Assessment; D012494:Sampling Studies; D012720:Severity of Illness Index; D016896:Treatment Outcome; D014374:Tuberculin Test; D014385:Tuberculosis, Gastrointestinal / Q000150:complications / Q000175:diagnosis / Q000628:therapy*; D014397:Tuberculosis, Pulmonary / Q000150:complications / Q000175:diagnosis* / Q000188:drug therapy
chemical_list: D000995:Antitubercular Agents