Pulmonary haemorrhage, pulmonary infarction, and the lupus anticoagulant

A patient with systemic lupus erythematosus developed pulmonary haemorrhage and pulmonary infarction as rare initial manifestations of her disease. The latter was associated with the presence of the circulating lupus anticoagulant. She recovered with pulse doses of methylprednisolone and plasmapheresis. Anticoagulants were not administered.