SLE Patients with Lung Hemorrhage Require Timely Evaluation

It is important to evaluate patients with systemic lupus erythematosus (SLE) and acute diffuse lung infiltration for diffuse alveolar hemorrhage (DAH) when these patients have low levels of hemoglobin and complement compound C4 and symptoms of hypoxia, according to a recent study.

For their retrospective cohort study, researchers divided 47 patients with SLE and diffuse lung infiltration based on DAH status, and compared the characteristics and outcomes from both groups.
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Overall, 24 patients (51.1%) met the criteria for DAH. There were no significant differences between the demographic features of the groups, but decreased hemoglobin and C4 levels and hypoxia at the time of diagnosis were associated with an increased risk of DAH. While severe conditions requiring mechanical ventilation were associated with increased mortality, DAH was not associated with increased mortality compared with non-DAH.

“In SLE patients with acute diffuse lung infiltration, it is important to promptly evaluate the DAH when patients have low levels of hemoglobin or C4, and symptoms of hypoxia. Mortality is associated with severe conditions requiring mechanical ventilation rather than with DAH in patients with diffuse lung infiltration.”

—Michael Potts

Reference:

Kim D, Choi J, Cho S, et al. Clinical characteristics and outcomes of diffuse alveolar hemorrhage in patients with systemic lupus erythematosus. Semin Arthritis Rheum. 2017. 46(6):782-787.