Factitious systemic lupus erythematosus

We report the case of a 15-year-old girl who simulated a complex clinical picture including cutaneous lesions, fever, arthralgia, asthenia and oliguria. A diagnosis of probable systemic lupus erythematosus (SLE) was assumed by numerous specialists and steroid therapy instituted. Factitious SLE should be considered for differential diagnosis of SLE, especially when laboratory evidence for autoimmunity is not demonstrated.