Intravascular Coagulation in Acute Lupus Erythematosus

Abstract

WE DESCRIBE a young woman with acute systemic lupus erythematosus (SLE) who also had complicating disseminated intravascular coagulation (DIC) that was both responsive to heparin and sensitive to its continued administration. Eventual response to simultaneously administered steroid therapy permitted successful discontinuance of anticoagulation treatment after 15 days. When last seen 1 1/2 years later, the patient was well while taking prednisone, 15 mg on alternate days. Report of a Case Following an attack of pharyngitis, a 19-year-old woman noticed small purpuric lesions on the fingers, cheeks, forehead, and ears. In the emergency department, her hematocrit value was 28.6%; white blood cell (WBC) count, 3,100/cu mm with 43 segmented neutrophils, 3 band cells, 49 lymphocytes, and adequate platelets; the corrected erythrocyte sedimentation rate was 32 mm/hr, and antistreptolysin O titer, 50 Todd units. A lupus erythematosus preparation was obtained and later reported as positive. She was instructed to return to the