Abstract
A patient with systemic lupus erythematosus (SLE) in whom hoarseness developed during an acute exacerbation of the disease was reported. Laryngoscopic examination showed diffuse edema and scarring of the larynx. Histrogic examination revealed mononuclear cells infiltration. Hoarseness with other disease activities improved by corticosteroid therapy. From these findings, we diagnosed this acute laryngitis as lupus laryngitis which has not been reported in Japan. Involvement of the larynx in SLE is rarely mentioned in published reports. The symptoms of lupus laringitis range from hoarseness to life-threatening respiratory distress. We should pay attention to laryngeal symptoms in patient with SLE as lupus laryngitis.
Furthermore, in this case, onset of SLE occurred 10 days after estrogen administration. Recently experimental studies have clearly demonstrated harmful effects of estrogens in NZB/NZW F1 mice. However, a possible influence of estrogen on the activity of human lupus still remains a matter of discussion. This case is very interesting to consider the clinical effect of estrogen to human SLE.
