Spontaneous Pneumothorax in a Patient with Systemic Lupus Erythematosus and Recent Infection with Coronavirus. (22nd August 2022)

• Record Type: Journal Article
• Authors: Graves, Nicholas; Flint, Julia; Sagdeo, Amol; Askari, Ayman; Ball, Patrick; Morrissey, Hana
• Other Names: Turna Akif Academic Editor.
• Is Part Of: Case reports in pulmonology. Volume 2022(2022)
• Publication Date: 2022-08-22
• Subjects: Lungs -- Diseases -- Periodicals; Respiratory organs -- Diseases -- Periodicals; Respiratory infections -- Periodicals; Lung Diseases; Respiratory Tract Diseases; Respiratory Tract Infections; Lungs -- Diseases; Respiratory infections; Respiratory organs -- Diseases; Periodicals; Case Reports; Electronic journals; Periodicals; 616.2
• DOI: 10.1155/2022/9594063
• Languages: English
• ISSNs: 2090-6846

Abstract

Abstract : A 50-year-old woman with a history of systemic lupus erythematosus and a recent infection with COVID-19 presented to the emergency department with acute shortness of breath twice in 10 days. She was diagnosed with myopericarditis attributed to COVID-19 infection (first admission), and chest X-ray revealed a small left-sided pneumothorax, pericardial effusion (second admission), with no mediastinal shift or other signs of tension. Computed tomography confirmed these results and revealed a few small cysts in the right lung. An echocardiogram demonstrated normal heart anatomy and filling dynamics. The patient was diagnosed with simple pneumothorax and ongoing myopericarditis managed with colchicine, ibuprofen, and low-dose prednisolone. The patient responded to treatment and was discharged. Pneumothorax association with COVID-19 is reported in a small number of publications, but the association is less clear with SLE. Our patient may have been predisposed to developing pneumothorax after COVID-19 infection due to her existing connective tissue disorder.