Diffuse Alveolar Hemorrhage as a Life-Threatening Feature of Juvenile Onset Systemic Lupus Erythematosus: A Case-Based Review

Abstract

Diffuse alveolar hemorrhage is an uncommon but serious complication of systemic lupus erythematosus (SLE). We reported a 17-year-old boy with idiopathic thrombocytopenic purpura, who admitted with pallor and petechiae. He had Coombs positive hemolytic anemia and thrombocytopenia (hemoglobin 6.2g/dL, platelets 10,000/mm³ and lactate dehydrogenase 1024U/L), cough, tachypnea, and desaturation in the room air. Chest radiograph revealed bilateral diffuse alveolar opacities and computed tomography showed bilateral diffuse alveolar infiltrates and ground-glass opacity consistent with pulmonary hemorrhage. Anti-nuclear antibody (ANA) was 1:640 with positive Ro and anti-phospholipid antibodies, low C3 and C4, but negative anti-double-stranded DNA. He was treated with pulse methylprednisolone followed by tapering doses of steroids and with 6 doses of intravenous cyclophosphamide once every two weeks followed by mycophenolate mofetil. He had no relapse in the following 3 years. The case was reported to emphasise this life-threatening complication of juvenile-onset SLE and we reviewed the literature.

Keywords: diffuse alveolar hemorrhage; juvenile-onset systemic lupus erythematosus.

Figure 1.

Bilateral diffuse alveolar opacities suggestive of pulmonary hemorrhage.