[A case with systemic lupus erythematosus complicated with tuberculosis sacroiliac arthritis]

A 26-year-old woman was admitted to our hospital because of fever of unknown origin. She had been treated with prednisolone, elcatonin and alfacalcidol under the diagnosis of systemic lupus erythematosus (SLE) and aseptic necrosis of femoral bone head. Six months ago she began to have a fever and subsequently left low back pain, for which extensive examinations were performed in other hospital but their causes remained unclear. She was referred to our hospital for further evaluation and therapy in October 1995. Bacteriological, immunological or serological examinations did not reveal the origin of fever. CT and ultrasonic examination did not show any abnormality. However, MRI, which was taken for the evaluation of aseptic necrosis of femoral bone head, showed the abscess shadow in sacroiliac joint. Open biopsy was performed and Mycobacterium tuberculosis bacilli were detected from the abscess. To our best knowledge, this is the first report of SEE with tuberculosis sacroiliac arthritis.