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Ileal perforation as an initial manifestation of systemic lupus erythematosus: A case report
Bibek Man Shrestha1, Suraj Shrestha1, Sanjeev Kharel1
1Maharajgunj Medical Campus, Institute of Medicine, Kathmandu, Nepal.
Introduction And Importance:
Lupus enteritis is uncommon in patients with SLE and usually presents with anorexia, vomiting, and abdominal pain. Intestinal perforation as an initial manifestation of SLE is rare and can have a grave prognosis if not timely diagnosed.
Case History:
We report an unusual case of a 22-year-old regularly menstruating female who presented with features of perforation peritonitis as an initial manifestation of lupus enteritis. Intraoperatively, a gangrenous ileal segment with multiple perforations was present. Thus, with an intraoperative diagnosis of perforation peritonitis, a gangrenous segment of the small bowel was resected and a double-barrel jejuno-ileostomy was created.
Discussion:
Lupus enteritis manifesting initially as bowel perforation can be an uncommon cause of acute abdomen. A plain chest X-ray can show gas under the diaphragm suggesting bowel perforation. A contrast-enhanced CT scan of the abdomen is the gold standard in diagnosing lupus enteritis with a good prognosis on steroids.
Conclusion:
Primary closure, resection, and anastomosis of small gut or diverting stoma are required for management of perforation. A high degree of clinical suspicion is required for early diagnosis thus preventing the grave prognosis of such an entity.
