Severe hypoxemia without pulmonary infiltrates in systemic lupus erythematosus

  • Camilo Pena Department of Internal Medicine, Texas Tech University Health Sciences Center, Lubbock TX
  • Amputch Karukote
  • Jose Cuevas
  • Kenneth Nugent
Keywords: systemic lupus erythematosus, hypoxemia, patent foramen ovale, pulmonary hypertension

Abstract

Fifty percent of systemic lupus erythematosus (SLE) patients have pulmonary disease which can involve the lung parenchyma, the pleural space, and pulmonary vessels. The article reviews the causes of severe hypoxemia in a SLE patient who had pulmonary hypertension patent foramen ovale, a history of recreational drugs use, asthma, and possible antiphospholipid syndrome who presented with acute dyspnea and severe hypoxemia. Her chest x-ray revealed cardiomegaly, increased central pulmonary vessels, decreased lung volumes but no infiltrates or effusions. Severe hypoxemia without pulmonary infiltrates in SLE patients is an unusual presentation; possible explanations include pulmonary emboli, severe pulmonary hypertension, and shrinking lung syndrome.

Downloads

Download data is not yet available.

Author Biography

Camilo Pena, Department of Internal Medicine, Texas Tech University Health Sciences Center, Lubbock TX
MD, pulmonary infection, expertise- clinical projects, general pulmonary medicine
Published
2015-10-13
How to Cite
Pena, C., Karukote, A., Cuevas, J., & Nugent, K. (2015). Severe hypoxemia without pulmonary infiltrates in systemic lupus erythematosus. The Southwest Respiratory and Critical Care Chronicles, 3(12), 39-47. Retrieved from https://pulmonarychronicles.com/index.php/pulmonarychronicles/article/view/238