Lupus Enteritis: An Uncommon Manifestation of Systemic Lupus Erythematosus as an Initial Presentation

Abstract

ABSTRACTSystemic lupus erythematosus (SLE) is an autoimmune disorder generally affects young to middle-aged women, commonly presenting as a triad of fever, rash, and joint pain but can affect multiple organs and can present in a complex fashion, varying based on the degree and severity of organ involvement. The differential for abdominal pain and diarrhea in SLE is vast and can include VIPomas, serositis, pancreatitis, intestinal vasculitis, and protein – losing enteropathy, gluten – enteropathy, intestinal pseudo-obstruction, and infection. The pathology of lupus enterits thought to be immune-complex deposition and complement activation, with subsequent mucosal edema. We present a case of a woman with no history of SLE, but with a prolonged course of abdominal pain, diarrhoea and vomiting and eventual diagnoses of lupus enteritis.