Dyspnoea in a young woman with active systemic lupus erythematosus

Diffuse alveolar haemorrhage (DAH) is a rare but life-threatening complication of systemic lupus erythematosus (SLE). We present the case of a 24-year-old Cambodian woman with SLE followed in the Brigham and Women's Hospital Lupus Center in Boston, Massachusetts. She presented with dyspnoea and chest pain and was found to have DAH that required a prolonged hospitalization that was complicated by recurrent DAH episodes and multiple infections. We discuss the diagnostic approach and management of patients with SLE-associated DAH as well as treatment options for refractory disease. Emerging therapies include plasmapheresis, the anti-CD20 monoclonal antibody rituximab and recombinant activated Factor VII therapy. In addition, we review the literature to date and compile what is known about the epidemiology, presenting features, diagnostic findings, management and outcomes in this condition. We found that DAH has been reported in 1.9% of patients with SLE. These patients were mostly female (88%) and young (mean age 30.2 years). Common presenting features included dyspnoea (94%), anaemia (97%) and new radiographic chest infiltrate (99%). Bronchoscopy, when performed, identified DAH in 90% of cases. Corticosteroids were the mainstay of care, and usage of cyclophosphamide varied by report. Despite recent advances in therapy, mortality has not improved substantially (48% overall survival versus 53% survival in reports published since 1993).