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Systemic lupus erythematosus (SLE) is an autoimmune disease that primarily affects women of childbearing age with 10:1 female to male ratio.(Siegel & Lee, 1973) Any organ can be affected by SLE; pulmonary involvement is usually in the latter course of the disease.(Haupt et al., 1981; Orens et al., 1994; Quadrelli et al., 2009) It is important to note that lung involvement is proportionately more common in men.(Kamen & Strange, 2010) Any part of the pulmonary system can be affected including airways, lung parenchyma, pulmonary vasculature, pleura and diaphragm.(Gross et al., 1972; Haupt et al., 1981; Kamen & Strange, 2010; Orens et al., 1994; Quadrelli et al., 2009; Weinrib et al., 1990) If SLE develops after age 49 years, it has a higher incidence of serositis, pulmonary involvement and mortality.(Boddaert et al., 2004) It is difficult to find out the true prevalence of pulmonary complications of SLE since many cases are due to infections.(Kamen & Strange, 2010) A recent autopsy study of 90 patients diagnosed with SLE, according to the American College of Rheumatology, pleuropulmonary involvement occurred in 98% of the autopsies. (Quadrelli et al., 2009) The most frequent findings were pleuritis (78%), bacterial infections (58%), alveolar hemorrhage (26%), followed by distal airway alterations (21%), opportunistic infections (14%) and pulmonary thromboembolism (8%), both acute and chronic.(Quadrelli et al., 2009) In a larger series, 25% of patients with SLE had clinical and/or radiographic evidence of pulmonary involvement.(Pego-Reigosa et al., 2009) |
