Lupus-Induced Vasculitis and Multiple Organ Dysfunction Syndrome as the First Presentation of Systemic Lupus Erythematosus (SLE) in Pregnancy.

BACKGROUND Systemic lupus erythematosus (SLE) is an autoimmune disease characterized by autoantibody production leading to inflammation in multiple organs; it commonly affects young women in their child-bearing years. Clinical manifestations are diverse and range from mild arthritis to diffuse alveolar hemorrhage (DAH). DAH is a rare and devastating complication of SLE that carries a mortality rate of up to 50%, despite aggressive therapy.