[Gastrointestinal manifestations of systemic lupus erythematosus: symptoms, diagnosis and differential diagnosis]

Abstract

Systemic lupus erythematosus (SLE) is a chronic rheumatic systemic disease of unknown etiology, with multiple organ involvement. About one-half of the patients have gastrointestinal manifestations, the symptomatology, diagnostic evaluation and differential diagnosis of which are discussed in this review. Inflammatory ulcerous changes in the gastrointestinal tract are here of primary clinical importance, not least on account of the frequent use of NSAID and corticosteroid medication. Although liver-specific laboratory parameters are often elevated they usually have no clinical significance.