Correlation of clinical, radiological and functional features of SLE lung disease

Abstract EN

This work was performed at the Rheumatology & Rehabilitation, Chest, Radiology and Clinical Pathology Departments of Zagazig University Hospitals.

The aim was to assess the nature of pleuro-pulmonary abnormalities in patients with systemic lupus erythematosus (SLE), with particular reference to interstitial lung disease (ILD).

The study included 25 patients with SLE (20 females and 5 males) with a mean age of 37 ± 15 years.

They were prospectively evaluated using high-resolution computed tomography (HRCT), plain chest radiography (CXR) and pulmonary function tests (PFTs).

Clinical assessment, drug therapy, disease activity, smoking status and serologic markers were also noted.

The HRCT was abnormal in 72 % (18 / 25) of patients, while CXR was abnormal in 32 % (8 / 25.

The most frequently detected primary HRCT abnormality was suggestive of ILD and was noted in 11 patients (44 %).

In 9 of those, ILD was clinically unsuspected, including one patient who had an HRCT suggestive of active alveolities.

Pleuro-pericardial abnormalities were seen on HRCT in 4 patients (16 %).

Of 15 patients who were asymptomatic, and had a normal examination, normal CXR and normal PFTs, five (33 %) had HRCT features of ILD.

There was no correlation between HRCT features and symptoms, disease duration, ds-DNA titres, smoking history or non-pulmonary involvement.

Although no statistical significant difference was noted between abnormal pulmonary function and ILD on HRCT, a trend towards significance was noted between disease activity and ILD (p < 0.05).