A case of systemic lupus erythematosus with pulmonary hypertension]

A 15 year-old girl was admitted to the hospital because of fever, polyarthlargia, dry cough, dyspnea, butterfly rash and multiple oral aphthas. The diagnosis of systemic lupus erythematosus (SLE) was made based on renal disorders, pancytopenia, positive antinuclear antibody and positive for antibodies to double-stranded DNA. On admission, she developed progressive dyspnea with highly active SLE. The patient was complicated with both pulmonary hypertension (PH) and interstitial pneumonitis (IP), judging from increased pulmonary sound by an auscultation, interstitial shadows especially at bilateral lower lung and enlarged shadow of right atrium in a chest rentgenogram, ground glass pattern of bilateral middle to lower lung in a chest computed tomographic scan, increased pulmonary artery pressure, 53 mmHg, by an ultrasound cardiograph (UCG). Combination of methylprednisolone pulse therapy, cyclosporin A and plasma exchanges was effectively administered, which resulted in improvement of disease activity of SLE, IP and PH. However, two months later, although disease activity of SLE was completely reduced, recurrence of PH by UCG and multiple pulmonary embolism (PE) which was observed by a chest rentgenogram and a pulmonary blood flow scintigraphy was further complicated. Administration of cyclophosphamide pulse therapy and warfarin therapy improved both PE and PH. The patient had PH at the different clinical course of SLE; 1) PH maybe induced by severe IP at the active phase of SLE and 2) PH brought about from multiple PE at the inactive phase of SLE. Thus, the case is thought to be suggestive of elucidating the pathogenesis of PH of several systemic autoimmune diseases including SLE.     

系统性红斑狼疮并发肺动脉高压1例并文献复习

目的提高对系统性红斑狼疮（SLE）并发肺动脉高压（PHT）的发病机制、临床表现、治疗及预后的认识。方法对1例并发PHT的SLE病例进行分析和讨论,并结合相关文献复习。结果SLE并发PHT的机制尚不明确。其临床表现无特异性,早期症状多为呼吸困难。SLE患者出现雷诺征时,应高度怀疑PHT的存在。大剂量糖皮质激素联合免疫抑制剂可显著降低PHT。结论SLE并发PHT常提示预后不良,应尽早诊断及治疗。针对原发病的强化治疗可有效降低PHT。     

以肺动脉高压首发的系统性红斑狼疮1例

患者：女,21岁,未婚,学生。因2周内反复发作晕厥3次入院。患者于入院前2周在乘地铁时无明显诱因出现黑噱,继之摔倒,1min左右清醒,1周后在家中再次晕厥,发作前有胸闷、乏力,无心悸,发作时伴牙关紧闭,双上肢抽搐,无大、小便失禁。     

Rituximab treatment of pulmonary arterial hypertension associated with systemic lupus erythematosus: a case report

Pulmonary hypertension is a common but underdiagnosed complication of systemic lupus erythematosus, which can be associated with significant morbidity and early mortality. Although often associated with anti-phospholipid antibodies, the etiology remains poorly understood. In case reports and small open trials, the anti-CD20, B-cell targeted therapeutic antibody, rituximab, has been reported to provide benefits for systemic lupus erythematosus patients with glomerulonephritis, anti-phospholipid antibody syndrome, vasculitis, arthritis, and refractory skin disease. However, the outcome of rituximab treatment of pulmonary arterial hypertension associated with systemic lupus erythematosus has not been described. We, therefore, present a case of a young systemic lupus erythematosus patient with early onset of pulmonary arterial hypertension during the disease course, refractory to multiple treatment modalities, who had significant improvement with rituximab therapy.     

Severe pulmonary hypertension in a patient with systemic lupus erythematosus and minimal lupus activity

Pulmonary hypertension (PH) sometimes occurs in patients with systemic lupus erythematosus (SLE). We report a case of 51-year-old-woman with PH associated with SLE. She had been diagnosed as SLE on the basis of pericardial effusion, hematological disorder, positive antinuclear antibody, and hypocomplementemia. Despite minimal lupus activity, she had marked elevation of pulmonary arterial pressure (101/53 mmHg) and decreased cardiac index (1.5 l/min/m2). Symptoms related to PH were progressive under treatment with oral corticosteroids, oxygen, calcium antagonists, and warfarin. After 17 months of epoprostenol treatment, she died of pulmonary infarction. SLE-associated PH is often severe and progressive even in association with minimal activity.     

Primary pulmonary hypertension associated with systemic lupus erythematosus

Summary A 24-year-old West Indian woman with a four-year history of systemic lupus erythematosus presented with progressive dypsnoea due to primary pulmonary hypertension. Despite showing a response to vasodilators, these failed to control the condition. Her pulmonary hypertension increased in severity, eventually resulting in her death. We believe primary pulmonary hypertension to be an unusual complication of systemic lupus erythematosus. We suggest that this diagnosis should be considered in all patients with systemic lupus erythematosus and progressive dypsnoea, as optimum benefit can only be obtained by early institution of vasodilator therapy.     

A case of systemic lupus erythematosus complicated with pulmonary hypertension and massive pericardial effusion

A 22 year-old-female had suffered from polyarthralgia and Raynaud's phenomenon since 1984. In 1986, she was diagnosed as systemic lupus erythematosus (SLE). In April 1988, she was admitted to Kawasaki Municipal Hospital because of fever and dyspnea on exertion (DOE). Physical examination showed high fever, butterfly rash, oral ulcer and elevation of heart sound IIp on auscultation. Laboratory findings revealed that erythrocyte sedimentation rate was elevated to 105 mm/hr. The following values were observed, anti DNA antibody 391 IU/ml, serum IgA 5mg/dl, anti IgA antibody weakly positive. Chest X ray showed CTR 65%. Echo cardiogram showed massive pericardial effusion. 201T1 myocardial SPECT revealed right ventricular pressure over loading. PSL 40 mg/day was started to administer for the massive pericardial effusion due to SLE activities. On 6th of June, right heart catheterization confirmed the pulmonary hypertension (PPA 22 mmHg, Pulmonary artery resistance (PAR) 1163 dyne/sec/cm-5/mm2). By the treatment with PSL, massive pericardial effusion was gradually improved but DOE clinically unchanged. Second right heart catheterization was done on 8th of August. PAR was improved to 895 dyne/sec/cm-5/mm2 but PPA was elevated to 26 mmHg. It is very interesting that PPA was elevated although PAR was improved by PSL therapy. It is considered that the increase in venous return which was caused by improvement of massive pericardial effusion induced conversely the elevation of PPA. Additionally she was complicated with IgA deficiency. It may occur not only by the immunogenetical disorder such as HLA or IgG subclass alteration but also by anti IgA antibody or lymphocytes dysfunction complicated with SLE.     

Low-dose epoprostenol improved pulmonary hypertension in a patient with systemic lupus erythematosus

A 43-year-old Japanese woman was referred to our hospital in 1997 because of Raynaud’s phenomenon. Systemic lupus erythematosus was diagnosed on the basis of the presence of antinuclear antibody (1:1,280), anti-DNA antibody (1:640), anti-Sm antibody, antiphospholipid antibody, lymphopenia, and proteinuria. She developed pulmonary fibrosis in 1999 and pulmonary hypertension in 2001. In October 2002, a 24-hr continuous infusion of epoprostenol was started. Dyspnea, Raynaud’s phenomenon, and pulmonary hypertension improved with low-dose epoprostenol (3.0 to 4.0 ng kg⁻¹ min⁻¹). The patient could not tolerate larger doses of epoprostenol so 4.0 ng kg⁻¹ min⁻¹ was selected as the maintenance dose. The clinical course was uneventful at this dosage. It appears that pulmonary hypertension can be controlled with low-dose epoprostenol such as 3.0 to 4.0 ng kg⁻¹ min⁻¹ in some rheumatic patients.     

Corticosteroid responsive pulmonary hypertension in systemic lupus erythematosus

Summary Primary pulmonary hypertension is an irreversible and fatal disorder. Every effort should therefore be made to discover all the other treatable diseases which may be associated with pulmonary hypertension. The association of systemic lupus erythematosus and pulmonary hypertension was rarely reported in the past. We add another case in which pulmonary hypertension was the presenting symptom of systemic lupus erythematosus (SLE). In contrast to the previously reported cases, our patient responded well to corticosteroids. It is assumed that this favorable response was due to the relatively early stage of the disease, when the histopathologic pulmonary changes were still in the reversible inflammatory stage.     

Primary and secondary pulmonary hypertension in systemic lupus erythematosus

OBJECTIVES: To describe the aetiology and clinical profile of primary and secondary pulmonary hypertension (PHT) in SLE patients. METHODS: A retrospective study of SLE patients with PHT identified from a cohort of 786 SLE patients seen at Tan Tock Seng Hospital, Singapore. RESULTS: 22 patients had primary and 24 patients had secondary PHT, with similar clinical features at presentation and a similar degree of pulmonary pressure elevation. Secondary PHT was due to valvular heart disease (50%), pulmonary embolism (13%), interstitial lung disease (8%) or a combination of these factors (29%). Primary PHT tended to present after a shorter duration of lupus than secondary PHT (8.8 vs 43.2 months, P=0.118). At presentation, Raynaud's phenomenon was present in 34.8% of subjects with primary or secondary PHT. Among those with secondary PHT, the presence of Raynaud's phenomenon was associated with a trend towards higher pulmonary artery systolic pressures (51.0 vs 40.5 mmHg, P=0. 101). 17% of patients with PHT died, but from causes unrelated to PHT. CONCLUSION: Primary and secondary PHT are equally common in SLE patients. Secondary PHT is often multi-factorial, and Raynaud's phenomenon may be a marker for the severity of PHT in this group of patients.     

系统性红斑狼疮致肺动脉高压及心包积液一例

系统性红斑狼疮（systemic lupus erythematosus,SLE）是一种累及多系统的自身免疫疾病,临床症状多样,早期症状往往不典型.病变累及心血管系统,少数患者可发生心包积液、肺动脉高压.我们收治了一例系统性红斑狼疮合并干燥综合征致肺动脉高压及心包积液的患者,现报告如下.     

Systemic lupus erythematosus associated with benign intracranial hypertension: a case report]

A case of systemic lupus erythematosus (SLE) with benign intracranial hypertension (BIH) is reported. A 41-year-old male with a history of SLE starting in 1982 was admitted to our hospital in December 1989 because of headache and vertigo. Laboratory examinations on admission showed proteinuria, mild anemia, and positive antinuclear and anti-Sm antibodies. No abnormal findings except high pressure of 350 mmH2O were observed in his cerebrospinal fluid (CSF). Fundoscopic examinations showed marked bilateral papilledema and retinal bleeding. Brain CT, MRI and angiography revealed diffuse brain edema without space occupying lesion and cerebrovascular diseases. Because there were no diseases such as endocrinological disorders, severe anemia, and no history of the administration of drugs which might cause intracranial hypertension, the diagnosis of BIH was made. Subsequently, he was treated with intravenous methylprednisolone therapy and osmotic diuretics and his clinical symptoms and pressure of CSF gradually improved. The decrease of CSF adsorption was observed with RI cisternography in our case. Psychosis, seizures and meningitis are common CNS manifestations in SLE patients. But BIH is very rare and its cause is unclear. Only 17 cases of SLE with BIH have been reported. The pathogenesis and treatment of BIH in SLE patients were discussed in this paper.     

Bosentan use in systemic lupus erythematosus patients with pulmonary arterial hypertension

Pulmonary arterial hypertension (PAH) in patients with systemic lupus erythematosus (SLE) is uncommon but is associated with poor survival. This study aimed to examine the long-term effects of bosentan, a dual endothelin-1 receptor antagonist, on symptomatology, haemodynamics and quality of life measures in SLE patients with symptomatic PAH. Four local patients had been followed up prospectively with pre-defined protocol during 12-months of bosentan treatment. Six minute walk distance (6MWD), NYHA functional class, Borg Dyspnoea Index (BDI) and SF-36 were measured at 0, 3, 6, 9 and 12 months. Systolic pulmonary arterial pressure (PAP) was measured by transthoracic echocardiography at zero, six and 12 months. Clinical parameters were analysed, pooling data from other SLE patients reported in the literature (n = 4). Bosentan was found to result in significant improvement in 6MWD compared to baseline [+24.8 m, +26.2 m, +54 m and +62.7 m at three (P = 0.001), six (P = 0.001), nine (P = 0.24) and 12 (P = 0.01) months respectively]. A differential effect was found with greater response in patients with lower exercise capacity. This was accompanied by decrease in NYHA functional class, BDI, transient or sustained drop in systolic PAP and mild improvement in SF-36 domains including mental health, vitality, social function and general health. Significantly deranged liver function was found in one patient.     

Clinical aspects of pulmonary hypertension in patients with systemic lupus erythematosus and in patients with idiopathic pulmonary arterial hypertension

Clinical aspects and pathology of pulmonary hypertension (PH) in patients with systemic lupus erythematosus (SLE) have been reported to be similar to those in patients with idiopathic pulmonary arterial hypertension (IPAH). To determine whether PH in these patients is similar, we compared the clinical characteristics, hemodynamics at diagnosis, and survival in groups of patients with SLE–PH and IPAH. We reviewed the case records of 20 patients with SLE–PH and 34 patients with IPAH, who had been assessed by echocardiography or right cardiac catheterization at Asan Medical Center, Seoul, Korea, from January 1995 to October 2003. Clinical features, laboratory data, chest X-rays, electrocardiogram results, pulmonary function tests, pulmonary perfusion scans, echocardiographic findings, serologic profiles, and survival were compared in the two groups of patients. The mean follow-up period was 18.1±20.6 months for patients with SLE–PH and 33.0±23.4 months for patients with IPAH. During follow-up, 12 SLE–PH (60%) and 11 IPAH (32%) patients died. For SLE–PH, the 3-year survival rate was 44.9% and the 5-year survival rate was 16.8%. For IPAH, the 3-year survival rate was 73.4% and the 5-year survival rate was 68.2% (p=0.02). There were no other significant differences in clinical characteristics and laboratory data between the two groups. In contrast to previous reports that the prognosis of patients with pulmonary arterial hypertension associated with collagen vascular disease was better than that of patients with IPAH, we found that the prognosis of patients with SLE–PH was much worse than that of patients with IPAH.     

Silica-associated systemic lupus erythematosus with lupus nephritis and lupus pneumonitis: A case report and a systematic review of the literature

IntroductionSeveral epidemiological studies have shown that silica exposure triggers the onset of systemic lupus erythematosus (SLE); however, the clinical characteristics of silica-associated SLE have not been well studied.Patient concernsA 67-year-old man with silicosis visited a primary hospital because of a fever and cough. His respiratory condition worsened, regardless of antibiotic medication, and he was referred to our hospital.DiagnosisThe patient showed leukopenia, lymphopenia, serum creatinine elevation with proteinuria and hematuria, decreased serum C3 level, and was positive for anti-double stranded DNA antibody, anti-nuclear antibody, and direct Coombs test. He was diagnosed with SLE. Renal biopsy was performed, and the patient was diagnosed with lupus nephritis (class IV-G(A/C) + V defined by the International Society of Nephrology/Renal Pathology Society classification). Computed tomography revealed acute interstitial pneumonitis, bronchoalveolar lavage fluid showed elevation of the lymphocyte fraction, and he was diagnosed with lupus pneumonitis.InterventionsPrednisolone (50 mg/day) with intravenous cyclophosphamide (500 mg/body) were initiated.OutcomesThe patient showed a favorable response to these therapies. He was discharged from our hospital and received outpatient care with prednisolone slowly tapered off. He had cytomegalovirus and herpes zoster virus infections during treatment, which healed with antiviral therapy.Review:We searched for the literature on sSLE, and selected 11 case reports and 2 population-based studies. The prevalence of SLE manifestations in sSLE patients were comparative to that of general SLE, particularly that of elderly-onset SLE. Our renal biopsy report and previous reports indicate that lupus nephritis of sSLE patients show as various histological patterns as those of general SLE patients. Among the twenty sSLE patients reported in the case articles, three patients developed lupus pneumonitis and two of them died of it. Moreover, two patients died of bacterial pneumonia, one developed aspergillus abscesses, one got pulmonary tuberculosis, and one developed lung cancer.ConclusionClose attention is needed, particularly for respiratory system events and infectious diseases, when treating patients with silica-associated SLE using immunosuppressive therapies.     

Immunopathologic and clinical studies in pulmonary hypertension associated with systemic lupus erythematosus

PH is an uncommon manifestation of SLE. The symptoms of PH develop within a few years after the onset of the multisystem disease. The most common presenting complaints of SLE patients with PH are dyspnea on exertion, chest pain, nonproductive cough, edema, and fatigue or weakness. The important physical findings are a loud second pulmonic heart sound and a right ventricular lift. The chest roentgenogram shows a cardiomegaly, a prominent pulmonary segment, and usually clear lung fields. Pulmonary function tests may show evidence of restrictive lung disease; however, the physiologic abnormalities are mild and out of proportion to the severity of the PH. The diagnosis of PH is established by cardiac catheterization showing elevated pulmonary artery pressure, normal capillary wedge pressure, and no evidence of intracardiac or extracardiac shunts. Pathologic examination of the lung demonstrates angiomatoid lesions involving muscular pulmonary arteries. There is a thickening of the media and subintima of the arterioles. Immunoglobulin and complement deposits are found in the walls of pulmonary arteries. Immunoglobulin eluted from the lung contains rheumatoid factor and antinuclear antibody including antibody to DNA activity. DNA antigen is also present in walls of blood vessels. These results suggest an immune complex deposition process as a mechanism in the pathogenesis of PH in SLE. The clinical course of PH in SLE is variable. Symptoms may be mild and the disease follows a stable and protracted course for several years. It can, however, develop a progressive course ending in death in a few years. The clinical response of SLE patients with PH to treatment with high doses of systemic corticosteroids is not consistent or predictable.     

Epoprostenol for treatment of pulmonary hypertension in patients with systemic lupus erythematosus

OBJECTIVE: Pulmonary hypertension with pathological changes similar to those observed in primary pulmonary hypertension occurs in patients with systemic lupus erythematosus (SLE). The efficacy of chronic epoprostenol therapy in SLE has not been well described. The objective of this paper is to describe our experience with long-term epoprostenol therapy in patients with pulmonary hypertension associated with SLE. DESIGN: Case series of six patients with SLE and associated pulmonary hypertension receiving chronic treatment with epoprostenol. RESULTS: All 6 patients had severe pulmonary hypertension. Mean pulmonary artery pressure (mPAP) was 57 +/- 9 mm Hg (mean +/- SD), and pulmonary vascular resistance was 14 +/- 7 units before beginning therapy with epoprostenol. In 4 patients who underwent repeat hemodynamic evaluation (9 to 16 months after starting epoprostenol), mean pulmonary artery pressure decreased by 38 +/- 21% and pulmonary vascular resistance by 58 +/- 12%. Clinically, all patients improved from New York Heart Association class III or IV to class I or II. Doses of epoprostenol ranged from 4 to 46 ng/kg/min, and the longest duration of therapy has been 2.5 years. Side effects from epoprostenol have not differed from those seen in patients with primary pulmonary hypertension, and except for one patient, there has been no exacerbation of SLE. CONCLUSION: Epoprostenol was effective for the treatment of pulmonary hypertension in this small group of patients with SLE. Further evaluation of epoprostenol therapy for patients with SLE and other diseases associated with pulmonary hypertension is warranted.