Lupus Pneumonitis Masquerading as Pulmonary Tuberculosis: A Case Study

    January 2015 in “ Journal of Arthritis ”
    Prasanta Kumar Bhattacharya, Aakash Roy, Md Jamil, Monaliza Lyngdoh
    Studysummary This case report describes an 18-year-old girl with systemic lupus erythematosus who developed lupus pneumonitis, initially misdiagnosed as tuberculosis, and responded dramatically to corticosteroid treatment.
    Our plain-language summary. Not medical advice or a treatment recommendation. Consult a qualified healthcare professional before changing treatment. Full disclaimer
    An 18-year-old girl with systemic lupus erythematosus (SLE) presented with symptoms mimicking pulmonary tuberculosis, including cough, fever, and haemoptysis. Despite initial treatment with antibiotics and anti-tubercular therapy, she did not improve. Further tests revealed positive anti-nuclear antibodies and ds DNA, nephrotic range proteinuria, and chest imaging indicative of lupus pneumonitis (LP). She responded dramatically to corticosteroids. This case highlighted the importance of considering SLE and LP in differential diagnoses, even in regions where tuberculosis is common.
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