Severe cognitive dysfunction and shrinking lung syndrome in systemic lupus erythematous

Authors

  • Breno José Alencar Pires Barbosa Department of Neurology - Hospital das Clínicas - Faculdade de Medicina - Universidade de São Paulo, São Paulo/SP
  • Francisco Akira Malta Cardozo Department of Internal Medicine - Hospital das Clínicas - Faculdade de Medicina - Universidade de São Paulo, São Paulo/SP
  • João Francisco Figueiredo Marcondes Ferraz Department of Internal Medicine - Hospital das Clínicas - Faculdade de Medicina - Universidade de São Paulo, São Paulo/SP
  • Jairo Rays Department of Internal Medicine - Hospital Universitário - Universidade de São Paulo, São Paulo/SP
  • Márcia Yoshie Kanegae Department of Internal Medicine - Hospital Universitário - Universidade de São Paulo, São Paulo/SP
  • Vilma Takayasu Department of Internal Medicine - Hospital Universitário - Universidade de São Paulo, São Paulo/SP

DOI:

https://doi.org/10.4322/acr.%25y.98468

Keywords:

Lupus Erythematosus, Systemic, Lung Diseases, Cognition Disorders

Abstract

Systemic lupus erythematosus (SLE) is an autoimmune disease that can affect any organ or system. Neuropsychiatric and pulmonary involvement can occur in 40 and 50% of patients respectively, and may occur in several different clinical forms. While the main neuropsychiatric manifestations are represented by cognitive impairment, organic cerebral syndromes, delirium, psychosis, seizures, and peripheral neuropathies, the main forms of pulmonary involvement are pleurisy with or without pleural effusion, pneumonitis, interstitial disease, pulmonary hypertension, and alveolar hemorrhage. The authors report the case of a 49-year-old woman whose first manifestation of SLE was represented by two rare manifestations: rapidly progressive cognitive impairment, which was associated with respiratory failure caused by the shrinking lung syndrome. The authors call attention to the under-diagnosis of lupus pulmonary complications and its association with severe cognitive impairment that often necessitates aggressive treatment.

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Published

2014-12-22

Issue

Section

Article / Clinical Case Report

How to Cite

Severe cognitive dysfunction and shrinking lung syndrome in systemic lupus erythematous. (2014). Autopsy and Case Reports, 4(4), 63-69. https://doi.org/10.4322/acr.%y.98468