A clinical study of pulmonary manifestations in systemic lupus erythematosus with special reference to CT findings

ObjectiveTo study the prevalence of pulmonary manifestations in systemic lupus erythematosus (SLE) using pulmonary function tests (PFT), chest X-ray and high resolution computed tomography (HRCT).MethodsThirty-eight patients fulfilling the ACR criteria for SLE were enrolled and evaluated using chest X-ray, PFT and HRCT chest to find out the pulmonary involvement. Patients with known occupational lung disease or pregnancy were excluded.ResultsThirty-five out of 38 patients were females. Clinical signs and symptoms referable to pulmonary involvement were present in 9 patients. HRCT showed abnormalities in 21 patients in contrast to pulmonary function abnormalities in 11 patients and chest X-ray abnormalities in 7 patients. The abnormalities on HRCT included interstitial lung disease in 15 patients, bronchiectasis in 3, pneumonia in 2, and pleural abnormalities in 7 patients. The overall pulmonary involvement was observed in 22 patients of whom HRCT detected abnormalities in 21 patients.ConclusionsPulmonary involvement is present in a significant number of SLE patients as detected by HRCT. However, in the majority, it is asymptomatic.