Systemic lupus erythematosus presenting as non-resolving pneumonia: a case report.

Stappers, Sofie; van der Graaff, Denise; Hoffman, Ilse; Moorkens, Walter; Hantson, Inge; Stappaerts, Inge; Nowé, Vicky; Vervliet, Liesbeth

BackgroundSystemic lupus erythematosus (SLE) is a rheumatological disorder with a heterogeneous clinical presentation and disease course. Case presentationWe report a case concerning a young woman with pleuropneumonia, non-responsive to conventional antibiotic therapy, who was, upon further inquiry and passage of time, diagnosed with SLE. Key pointsBy means of this case, we would like to emphasize the clinical implications and prognostic significance of lymphopenia in patients with SLE. Moreover, we attempt to make the reader aware of some of the protean manifestations of SLE and we would like to raise suspicion of acute lupus pneumonitis by demonstrating a case of a young female with non-resolving pneumonia.