A Case of Lupus Enteritis That Developed during the Treatment of Systemic Lupus Erythematosus / 대한피부과학회지

Systemic lupus erythematosus is a multisystemic autoimmune inflammatory disease with a variety of presenting features and manifestations. Gastrointestinal complications are common in patients with systemic lupus erythematosus, and lupus enteritis is a major cause of acute abdominal pain in the patients suffering with systemic lupus erythematosus. We report here on a 41-year-old-woman with systemic lupus erythematosus and who had developed an acute abdomen during treatment with systemic glucocorticoid and antimalarial drugs. Lupus enteritis was strongly suspected according to the clinical manifestations and the findings of the abdominal computerized tomography scan. She recovered after being treated with intravenous high dose glucocorticoid and conservative therapy.

A Case of Extensive Involvement of Lupus Enteritis, from Small Bowel to Rectum / 대한류마티스학회지

Systemic lupus erythematosus (SLE) is a multisystem ic inflammatory disorder mediated by autoantibodies and immune complexes that manifests with a variety of symptoms. Lupus enteritis is a serious complication of SLE and carries a high mortality rate, however the diagnosis is not easy for there are no specific clinical manifestations and laboratory findings. Lupus enteritis usually involves the mesenteric arteries causing ischemic changes of the small and large bowels, and yet rarely involves the rectum. Here, we report a case of a 26-year-old female lupus enteritis patient who presented with atypical abdominal pain. Early diagnosis was made by abdominal pelvic computed tomography (CT) scan, which showed extensive involvement of lupus enteritis from proximal small bowel to rectum. She recovered after being treated with high dose steroid therapy.

Three Cases of Lupus enteritis: Response to Steroid Therapy / 대한류마티스학회지

Systemic lupus erythematosus is a systemic disorder which has frequent involvement of gastrointestinal tract. Non specific symptoms such as anorexia, nausea, diarrhea and abdominal pain are well known symptoms when the gastrointestinal tract is involved. The most feared gastrointestinal complication of systemic lupus erythematosus is lupus enteritis. The pathological change in lupus enteritis is usually a result of mesenteric vasculitis. Major complications such as intestinal bleeding and perforation may occur and sometimes result in sugery. Because of high mortality rate in case of major complications, early diagnosis and appropriate treatment is very important. We experienced three patients with lupus enteritis who presented with severe abdominal pain and dirrhea. They were diagnosed by characteristic radiographical findings of small bowel series and barium study. All radiographical findings has been resolved completely with the steroid therapy. Conclusively we can induce complete remission by steroid therapy alone, if we diagnose lupus enteritis in the early period of disease course.