Massive Pulmonary Hemorrhage in a Patient with Systemic Lupus Erythematosus

Abstract

Pulmonary hemorrhage is a rare and often fatal manifestation of systemic lupus erythematosus (SLE) and enters the differential diagnosis of diffuse lung disease in patients with SLE. We have recently seen massive pulmonary hemorrhage in a 24 year old SLE patient with diffuse proliferative lupus nephritis. Pulmonary hemorrhage was diagnosed by the clinical triad of hemoptysis, anemia, infiltration on chest X-ray and by elevated carbon monoxide diffusing capacity (DLCONA).