Key result
Pulse corticosteroid therapy led to clinical and echocardiographic improvement in cardiac function in a patient with acute pulmonary edema as the initial presentation of systemic lupus erythematosus.
Case Report (n=1)
Acute pulmonary edema can be a rare initial presentation of systemic lupus erythematosus, requiring pulse corticosteroid therapy for improvement.
May indicate steroid-responsive cardiac dysfunction in rare SLE presentations; leaves open need for controlled studies before practice change.
Acute pulmonary edema is an unusual initial presentation for systemic lupus erythematosus. A 46-year-old woman required intensive care for life-threatening pulmonary edema of unknown etiology, which was unresponsive to conventional treatment. Her condition improved only when pulse corticosteroid therapy was initiated, with clinical and echocardiographic improvement in cardiac function. The diagnosis of systemic lupus erythematosus was then made, based on immunologic tests and renal biopsy. The patient's condition remained stable only with continuation of appropriate therapy for systemic lupus erythematosus.
No takes yet. Share an insight, caveat, or question.
Susan Freter (1994) conducted a case report in Systemic lupus erythematosus (n=1). Pulse corticosteroid therapy vs. conventional treatment was evaluated on Clinical and echocardiographic improvement in cardiac function. Pulse corticosteroid therapy led to clinical and echocardiographic improvement in cardiac function in a patient with acute pulmonary edema as the initial presentation of systemic lupus erythematosus.
Synapse has enriched 5 closely related papers on similar clinical questions. Consider them for comparative context: