A case of systemic lupus erythematosus complicated with pulmonary hypertension

Abstract

Although pleuro-pulmonary involvement commonly occurs in systemic lupus erythematosus (SLE), pulmonary hypertension is a rare condition documented in patients with SLE. Improvement of prognosis was achieved by therapeutic progress in patients with SLE. However pulmonary hypertension is still a serious complication, which often results in sudden death. Diagnosis of pulmonary hypertension in early stage is essential for subsequent successful treatment. We describe a woman with SLE in whom pulmonary hypertension developed insidiously during over four years. We noted that electrocardiogram was helpful for earlier detection of pulmonary hypertension. The treatment of pulmonary hypertension is generally unsatisfactory, but various vasodilators are reported to be helpful. In our case, nitroglycerin and prazosin had an acute effect for the improvement of pulmonary hypertension in addition to the treatment with prednisolone.