<abstract xmlns="http://www.w3.org/1999/xhtml">Systemic lupus erythematosus (SLE) is a chronic autoimmune disease of unknown etiology, presenting with variable clinical picture. Having a high heterogeneity and lacking pathognomonic features, very often the diagnosis poses a great challenge for the clinician. Several unusual clinical manifestations such as nasal septal perforation and digital gangrene can occur in LES patients.<bold>Case report.</bold> We report the case of a 42-year-old woman, known with SLE, hospitalized in our department for a clinical presentation consisting of a recent major epistaxis, physical asthenia and acral necrosis of the upper limbs. Physical examination revealed an afebrile patient, with a cushingoid facies, facial telangiectasias, and necrotic scars localized on the distal phalanges, bilaterally.A diagnostic nasal endoscopy showed a large septal perforation with the absence of the cartilaginous nasal septum. CT highlighted an extended defect at the level of the cartilaginous part of the nasal septum.<bold>Conclusion.</bold> Nasal septal perforation remains an underdiagnosed invalidating complication of lupus and treated and discovered early could have an important impact on the general health of an already burdened by disease patient.</abstract>

Systemic lupus erythematosus (SLE) is a chronic autoimmune disease of unknown etiology, presenting with variable clinical picture. Having a high heterogeneity and lacking pathognomonic features, very often the diagnosis poses a great challenge for the clinician. Several unusual clinical manifestations such as nasal septal perforation and digital gangrene can occur in LES patients.Case report. We report the case of a 42-year-old woman, known with SLE, hospitalized in our department for a clinical presentation consisting of a recent major epistaxis, physical asthenia and acral necrosis of the upper limbs. Physical examination revealed an afebrile patient, with a cushingoid facies, facial telangiectasias, and necrotic scars localized on the distal phalanges, bilaterally.A diagnostic nasal endoscopy showed a large septal perforation with the absence of the cartilaginous nasal septum. CT highlighted an extended defect at the level of the cartilaginous part of the nasal septum.Conclusion. Nasal septal perforation remains an underdiagnosed invalidating complication of lupus and treated and discovered early could have an important impact on the general health of an already burdened by disease patient.

Systemic Lupus Erythematosus with Unusual Manifestations

University of Medicine and Pharmacy, “Carol Davila”

Internal Medicine

This work is licensed under the Creative Commons Attribution-NonCommercial-NoDerivatives 3.0 License.

{"article-title":"Systemic Lupus Erythematosus with Unusual Manifestations"}

Systemic lupus erythematosus (SLE) is a chronic autoimmune disease of unknown etiology, presenting with variable clinical picture. Having a high heterogeneity...

Systemic Lupus Erythematosus with Unusual Manifestations

Publicado en línea: 29 ene 2021

Páginas: 43 - 53

DOI: https://doi.org/10.2478/inmed-2020-0142

Palabras clave
systemic lupus erythematosus, nasal septal perforation, digital gangrene

© 2020 Lorena Manea et al., published by Sciendo

This work is licensed under the Creative Commons Attribution-NonCommercial-NoDerivatives 3.0 License.

Systemic Lupus Erythematosus with Unusual Manifestations

Publicado en línea: 29 ene 2021

Páginas: 43 - 53

DOI: https://doi.org/10.2478/inmed-2020-0142

Palabras clavesystemic lupus erythematosus, nasal septal perforation, digital gangrene

© 2020 Lorena Manea et al., published by Sciendo

This work is licensed under the Creative Commons Attribution-NonCommercial-NoDerivatives 3.0 License.

Palabras clave
systemic lupus erythematosus, nasal septal perforation, digital gangrene