Pneumonitis in a lupus twin pregnancy: a case report

We describe a patient with systemic lupus erythematosus (SLE), whose pregnancy was complicated by fulminant lupus pneumonitis and pericarditis. Maternal disease responded to therapy and twin girls were delivered, both with thrombocytopenia, one of whom died of an intraventricular haemorrhage. Pneumonitis is a rare complication of lupus in pregnancy which may be fatal. We suggest patients with previous severe pneumonitis should have lung function tests at the onset of pregnancy, and treatment be modified to suppress flare if there is any indication of severe pneumonitis in early pregnancy.