scholarly journals Efficacy of Rituximab in a Systemic Lupus Erythematosus Patient Presenting with Diffuse Alveolar Hemorrhage

2017 ◽  
Vol 2017 ◽  
pp. 1-7 ◽  
Author(s):  
Gabriela Montes-Rivera ◽  
Grissel Ríos ◽  
Luis M. Vilá

Diffuse alveolar hemorrhage (DAH) is a life-threatening complication of systemic lupus erythematosus (SLE). Although infrequent, its mortality is very high. While there are no established therapeutic guidelines, DAH has been traditionally managed with high-dose intravenous (IV) corticosteroids, cyclophosphamide, and plasma exchange. The efficacy of alternative therapies such as rituximab has been described only in a few cases. Herein, we report a 25-year-old Hispanic man who presented with acute-onset SLE manifested by polyarthralgia, nephritis, seizures, pancytopenia, severe hypocomplementemia, and elevated anti-dsDNA antibodies. His disease course was complicated by DAH. His condition was refractory to high-dose intravenous (IV) methylprednisolone pulses, IV cyclophosphamide, and plasmapheresis. Given the lack of clinical response, he was started on IV rituximab 375 mg/m2 weekly for a total of four courses. He rapidly improved after the first two doses. Over the next seven months, he did not present recurrent pulmonary symptoms. Follow-up chest computed tomography did not show residual abnormalities. This case, together with other reports, suggests that rituximab is an effective therapeutic option for DAH in SLE.

2012 ◽  
Vol 2012 ◽  
pp. 1-4 ◽  
Author(s):  
Ravi Paul Singh Virdi ◽  
Adeel Bashir ◽  
Ghulamullah Shahzad ◽  
Javed Iqbal ◽  
Jose O. Mejia

Diffuse alveolar hemorrhage (DAH) is a rare life-threatening complication in systemic lupus erythematosus (SLE) associated with high mortality rates. DAH is more common in women, and mean age of onset is around 30 years. It mostly occurs in patients with established diagnosis of SLE but can be the initial presentation of lupus in approximately 20%. DAH should be suspected in lupus patient presenting with new pulmonary infiltrates, decline in hemoglobin, hemoptysis, dyspnea, hypoxemia, and increase in carbon monoxide diffusion capacity. Radiographic evidence of bilateral pulmonary alveolar infiltrates that are usually perihilar or basilar with sparing of apices is seen. DAH can often mimic clinically and radiologically severe pneumonia or ARDS. Treatment includes high-dose corticosteroids, cyclophosphamide, and plasmapheresis. We report a case of diffuse alveolar hemorrhage complicating SLE flare-up in a male patient.


2019 ◽  
Vol 89 (2) ◽  
Author(s):  
Anshul Mittal ◽  
Jagdish Chander Suri ◽  
Shibdas Chakrabarti ◽  
Pranav Ish

It is uncommon for Systemic lupus erythematosus (SLE) to present with diffuse alveolar hemorrhage (DAH) as the initial presentation. To diagnose this in a young male with no renal involvement is further uncommon. We report a case of a 16-year-old boy, who presented with hemoptysis and was eventually diagnosed as DAH with underlying SLE. Treatment with steroids and immunosuppressant helped in rapid recovery from this potentially life-threatening condition. This case highlights the need of defining diagnostic criteria for SLE in patients presenting as DAH and formulating guidelines for treatment of the same, especially in absence of co-existing lupus nephritis.


2021 ◽  
Author(s):  
Laura Maria Silva de Siqueira ◽  
Douglas Squizatto Leite ◽  
João Flávio Gomes Faria ◽  
Daniela Esteves Temporim ◽  
Matheus Zanata Brufatto ◽  
...  

Henrique Pereira Sampaio , Luiz Eduardo Valente , Sula Glaucia Lage Drumond Pacheco , Sean Hideo Shirata Lanças


Lupus ◽  
2020 ◽  
Vol 29 (4) ◽  
pp. 355-363 ◽  
Author(s):  
N K Al-Adhoubi ◽  
J Bystrom

Diffuse alveolar hemorrhage is a severe respiratory complication of systemic lupus erythematosus. The illness develops over hours to a few days and is the systemic lupus erythematosus-associated syndrome with highest mortality. Although no specific symptoms have been identified, a number of features are associated with diffuse alveolar hemorrhage, with a drop in blood hemoglobin the most prominent. Dyspnea, blood-stained sputum, diffuse infiltrates identified by chest imaging, elevated single breath-diffusing capacity for monoxide, thrombocytopenia and C3 hypocomplementemia are other commonly reported signs of diffuse alveolar hemorrhage. The etiology is not completely understood but many patients develop diffuse alveolar hemorrhage concomitant with lupus nephritis, suggesting immune complex-driven pathology. Biopsy studies have identified both cases with capillaritis and a bland non-inflammatory phenotype. An animal model of diffuse alveolar hemorrhage has indicated requirement of B lymphocytes and complement receptor-mediated apoptotic body phagocytosis by monocytes as part of the pathogenesis. This review will discuss considerations when diagnosing the condition and available therapies. Infections and other causes of hemorrhage have to be excluded as these require different treatment strategies. Methylprednisolone and cyclophosphamide remain the most commonly used therapies. Plasmapheresis and rituximab are other beneficial treatment options. A few studies have also considered intrapulmonary Factor VII therapy, extracorporeal membrane oxygenation and mesenchymal stem cell therapy. There is an unmet need of better definition of diffuse alveolar hemorrhages etiology and pathology for development of improved treatment strategies.


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