Acute lupus pneumonitis with normal chest radiograph

Irawan Susanto, Jay I. Peters

Research output: Contribution to journalArticlepeer-review

25 Scopus citations

Abstract

Patients with acute lupus pneumonitis (ALP) usually have hypoxemia, patchy infiltrates evidenced on a chest x-ray film, and an incomplete response to corticosteroids with high mortality. In contrast, lupus patients with a syndrome of acute reversible hypoxemia (SARH) have hypoxemia with normal chest x-ray films and a rapid response to corticosteroids. We present a case of biopsy-proven ALP with normal initial chest x-ray films, and a normal CT scan. We hypothesize that a continuum of vascular and parenchymal abnormalities may exist in the lungs of lupus patients. This case also illustrates the insensitivity of routine chest radiographs in demonstrating mild or early pneumonitis.

Original languageEnglish (US)
Pages (from-to)1781-1783
Number of pages3
JournalChest
Volume111
Issue number6
DOIs
StatePublished - 1997

Keywords

  • Corticosteroids
  • Hypoxemia
  • Lupus
  • Pneumonitis

ASJC Scopus subject areas

  • Critical Care and Intensive Care Medicine
  • Cardiology and Cardiovascular Medicine
  • Pulmonary and Respiratory Medicine

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