Systemic lupus erythematosus in the practice of a pulmonologist

Background. Systemic lupus erythematosus (SLE) is a multisystem autoimmune disease with a wide range of pleuropulmonary lesions. Acute lupus pneumonitis (ALP) is one of the rare complications of SLE. Description of the clinical case. A clinical case of ALP after delivery as an initial manifestation of SLE in 24-year-old woman is presented. In the case described, lupus pneumonitis developed against the background of high SLE activity and was characterized by fever, acute onset of respiratory symptoms, accompanied by the development of respiratory failure. Difficulties in diagnosing ALP were associated to the nonspecificity of clinical and radiological manifestations and the lack of an established diagnosis of SLE at the time of development of acute respiratory failure. Conclusion. The high risk of death requires early diagnosis and timely therapy. ALP is a diagnosis of exclusion and needs to be differentiated from infectious and other non-infectious complications of SLE. In the presented case, clinical, radiological and functional improvements were noted after combined pulse therapy.

systemic lupus erythematosus, acute lupus pneumonitis, lupus pneumonitis