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Systemic lupus erythematosus presenting with lingual infarction.
1Division of Clinical Immunology and Rheumatology, Hahnemann University, Philadelphia, PA 19102-1192.
The Journal of Rheumatology
|August 1, 1988
Summary
Systemic lupus erythematosus (SLE) can manifest with rare symptoms, including tongue infarction. This case highlights a unique presentation of SLE involving lingual infarction, Raynaud's phenomenon, and pancytopenia.
Area of Science:
- Rheumatology
- Internal Medicine
- Clinical Case Reports
Background:
- Systemic lupus erythematosus (SLE) is a chronic autoimmune disease with diverse clinical manifestations.
- Anticardiolipin antibodies are associated with an increased risk of thrombosis in SLE patients.
Observation:
- A 73-year-old woman presented with a constellation of symptoms including lingual infarction, Raynaud's phenomenon, cutaneous lesions, pancytopenia, and pleuritis.
- Diagnostic workup, including serologic studies, confirmed the presence of SLE.
- Significant titers of anticardiolipin antibodies were detected in the patient's serum.
Findings:
- The patient's presentation included a rare lingual infarction, a previously unreported manifestation of SLE.
- The combination of clinical features and laboratory findings strongly supported the diagnosis of systemic lupus erythematosus.
- The presence of high-titer anticardiolipin antibodies suggested an autoimmune-mediated thrombotic process.
Implications:
- This case expands the spectrum of known clinical presentations of systemic lupus erythematosus.
- It underscores the importance of considering rare manifestations, such as tongue infarction, in the diagnosis of SLE.
- Further research may elucidate the specific mechanisms linking SLE, anticardiolipin antibodies, and lingual infarction.