Shrinking Lung Syndrome: A Rare Manifestation of Systemic Lupus Erythematosus

Overview

Journal Cureus

Specialty Biomedical Engineering

Date 2020 Jun 26

PMID 32582477

Citations 7

Authors

Saiara Choudhury

Manuel Ramos

Humayun Anjum

Mohammed Ali

Salim Surani

Affiliations

Soon will be listed here.

Abstract

Shrinking lung syndrome (SLS) is a pulmonary complication of systemic lupus erythematosus (SLE) characterized by dyspnea, pleuritic chest pain, and progressive decrease in lung volumes with no evidence of pleural or interstitial disease on chest CT. We present a 51-year-old female with a 14-year history of SLE with symptoms of progressive shortness of breath, pleuritic chest pains, low grade fevers, and productive cough which was unresponsive to multiple courses of antibiotics. After careful review of her course of SLE and timeline of symptoms, she was diagnosed with SLS. Even though rare, clinicians should have a high suspicion of SLS in patients with a long-term history of SLE and worsening dyspnea. Early treatment can be initiated to help reduce long-term morbidity and mortality and maintain the quality of life.

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