A Case of New-Onset Systemic Lupus Erythematosus With Serositis in a Maintenance Hemodialysis Patient. Issue 14 (October 2021)

• Record Type: Journal Article
• Authors: Kosugi, Shotaro; Yoshida, Tadashi; Yoshimoto, Norifumi; Itoh, Hiroshi; Oya, Mototsugu
• Is Part Of: Clinical medicine insights. Issue 14(2021)
• Publication Date: 2021-10
• Subjects: Systemic lupus erythematosus -- hemodialysis -- serositis -- pleuritis -- peritonitis -- pericarditis; Clinical medicine -- Case studies -- Periodicals; Medicine; Clinical medicine; Electronic journals; Case Reports; Periodicals; Case Reports; Fulltext; Internet Resources; Periodicals; Case studies; Periodicals; 616.09
• DOI: 10.1177/11795476211056172
• Languages: English
• ISSNs: 1179-5476

Abstract

A 61-year-old woman with a 4-year history of maintenance hemodialysis due to end-stage renal disease of unknown cause was admitted because of a recurrent fever and abdominal pain lasting for 3 months. She had rheumatoid arthritis as a complication and had taken sulfasalazine for over 4 years. Laboratory data revealed thrombocytopenia, hypocomplementemia, a high C-reactive protein level, and positivity for antinuclear antibody and anti-double strand DNA antibody. Gallium scintigraphy showed pericarditis, pleuritis, and peritonitis. Nonscarring alopecia was also noted. She was diagnosed as having systemic lupus erythematosus (SLE). Drug-induced lupus elicited by sulfasalazine was ruled out because the symptoms did not improve even after the discontinuation of the drug upon admission. Oral prednisolone treatment markedly improved her symptoms and laboratory data. However, she later died of sepsis arising from proctitis on day 71 of admission. This report underscores the necessity of considering new-onset SLE in patients with unexplained fever and serositis, including pleuritis, peritonitis, or pericarditis, even if they are receiving maintenance dialysis.