[Thoracic manifestations of systemic lupus erythematosus].

Background: Systemic lupus erythematosus (SLE) is an autoimmune disease. The respiratory system is more commonly involved in SLE than in any other collagen vascular disease.

Aim: To study the pleuropulmonary manifestations of SLE.

Methods: Retrospective study including 10 patients hospitalized between January 2000 and December 2008 for pleuro-pulmonary manifestation revealing or complicating the SLE.

Results: Nine women and only one man aged between 21 and 67 years-old were included in this study. Two patients had already SLE and for the other patients the pleuro-pulmonary manifestations were revealing the SLE. Pleural effusion was the most common manifestation witch represents 50% of the patients. For the other patients we find one case of interstitial pneumonia, one case of pulmonary embolism, on case of pneumonia, on case of pulmonary haemorrhage and on case of pulmonary hypertension. All these patients were treated by corticoids and only one patient takes high doses of corticoids for managing a massive pulmonary haemorrhage. The evolution was favourable for 9 patients, one patient dead because of massive pulmonary haemorrhage complicated with acute respiratory failure.

Conclusion: Pleuro-pulmonary involvement in SLE is common and may be life threatening, in which case prompt and aggressive treatment is mandatory.