title: Acute respiratory distress syndrome in a pregnant woman with systemic lupus erythematosus: a case report.
abstract: When the disease activity of systemic lupus erythematosus (SLE) is controlled appropriately, a pregnant woman who has lupus is able to carry safely to term and deliver a healthy infant. While the physiology of a healthy pregnancy itself influences ventilatory function, acute pulmonary distress may decrease oxygenation and influence both mother and fetus. Though respiratory failure in pregnancy is relatively rare, it remains one of the leading conditions requiring intensive care unit admission in pregnancy and carries a high risk of maternal and fetal morbidity and mortality, not to mention the complexity caused by lupus flare. We report a case of SLE complicated with lupus pneumonitis and followed by acute respiratory distress during pregnancy. Though there is a high risk of maternal and fetal morbidity and mortality, maternal respiratory function improved after cesarean section and treatment of the underlying causes. The newborn had an extremely low birth weight but was well at discharge.
authors.affiliation: Department of Obstetrics and Gynecology, Taichung Veterans General Hospital, Taichung, Taiwan.
authors.forename: Y-J A
authors.initials: YJ
authors.lastname: Chen
authors.affiliation: Department of Obstetrics and Gynecology, Taichung Veterans General Hospital, Taichung, Taiwan.
authors.forename: J-J
authors.initials: JJ
authors.lastname: Tseng
authors.affiliation: Department of Obstetrics and Gynecology, Taipei Veterans General Hospital, Taipei, Taiwan.
authors.forename: M-J
authors.initials: MJ
authors.lastname: Yang
authors.affiliation: Division of Allergy, Immunology and Rheumatology, Department of Medicine, Taipei Veterans General Hospital, Taipei, Taiwan.
authors.forename: Y-P
authors.initials: YP
authors.lastname: Tsao
authors.affiliation: Division of Allergy, Immunology and Rheumatology, Taipei Veterans General Hospital and National Yang-Ming University School of Medicine, Taipei, Taiwan hylin@vghtpe.gov.tw.
authors.forename: H-Y
authors.initials: HY
authors.lastname: Lin
mesh_terms: D000328:Adult; D000900:Anti-Bacterial Agents / Q000627:therapeutic use; D002585:Cesarean Section; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D016756:Immunoglobulins, Intravenous / Q000627:therapeutic use; D007155:Immunologic Factors / Q000627:therapeutic use; D052577:Infant, Extremely Low Birth Weight; D008180:Lupus Erythematosus, Systemic / Q000150:complications* / Q000628:therapy; D010956:Plasmapheresis; D011247:Pregnancy; D011248:Pregnancy Complications / Q000209:etiology* / Q000628:therapy; D012128:Respiratory Distress Syndrome / Q000209:etiology* / Q000628:therapy; D013256:Steroids / Q000627:therapeutic use
chemical_list: D000900:Anti-Bacterial Agents; D016756:Immunoglobulins, Intravenous; D007155:Immunologic Factors; D013256:Steroids
keywords: Systemic lupus erythematosus; acute respiratory distress syndrome; pregnancy