[A case of lupus cystitis successfully treated with corticosteroid accompanied by gastrointestinal symptoms]

A 34-years-old woman was admitted to our department in February, 1992, because of nausea, vomiting, abdominal pain and diarrhea. She had been diagnosed as systemic lupus erythematosus (SLE) in 1988 and treated with prednisolone at the dose of 5 mg a day. In December, 1991, gastrointestinal symptoms developed followed by anuria on March 3, 1992. The laboratory findings revealed no activities in SLE. Computed tomography (CT) showed bilateral hydroureteronephrosis, swelling of bladder and gastrointestinal wall, and ascites. Under the diagnosis of lupus cystitis, corticosteroid therapy was started with 125 mg of methylprednisolone. Her symptoms improved immediately. Abnormal findings shown in the previous CT disappeared concomitantly. Lupus cystitis was reported by Orth et al. 1983 as severe fetal syndrome. However, because early corticosteroid therapy appears to reverse acute manifestation of lupus cystitis without complications, attention should be paid on lupus cystitis in patients with SLE with gastrointestinal symptoms of unknown etiology and decreasing urinary volume.