Chemosis and papillitis-presenting signs in systemic lupus erythematosus: Report of a case.

The authors report a case with chemosis of conjunctiva and papillitis in a young female patient. Physical examination revealed no malar rash, skin lesion, photophobia, oral ulcer or joint symptom. Laboratory examination revealed anemia, leucopenia, albuminuria. Urine examined every 24 hours 3 days amounted to 1.26, 1.77, 1.47 gm./day respectively. Immunologic examination revealed L.E. cell-positive, antinuclear factor-posititve (reticular type). Renal biopsy: mesangial proliferative glomerulonephritis. Final diagnosis for this patient was systemic lupus erythematosus. Prednisolone 60 mg. orally/day improved both chemosis and papillitis. These presenting ocular signs are seen rarely in systemic lupus erythematosus.