Lupus-Associated Knee Pain: An Atypical Presentation of Systemic Lupus Erythematosus in a Young Male

December 2025 in “ Cureus ”

António L Pessoa, Ana Teixeira Reis, Ana Santos Costa, Miguel Rodrigues, Carolina De Almeida Robalo

systemic lupus erythematosus non-scarring alopecia hydroxychloroquine inflammatory musculoskeletal issues hypocomplementemia positive ANA EULAR/ACR criteria SLE hair loss Plaquenil

TLDR SLE can occur in young males and cause knee pain.

Systemic lupus erythematosus (SLE) is typically seen in young women, but this case study highlights its occurrence in a 19-year-old male who presented with bilateral inflammatory knee pain. Initially thought to be patellofemoral chondromalacia, further investigation using ¹⁸F-FDG PET-CT revealed systemic inflammation. Additional symptoms included non-scarring alopecia, subcutaneous plaques, leukopenia, hypocomplementemia, and positive ANA, fulfilling the EULAR/ACR criteria for SLE. Treatment with hydroxychloroquine improved his symptoms, underscoring the need to consider SLE in atypical patient demographics and those with unexplained inflammatory musculoskeletal issues.

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