Pulmonary Changes Occurring in Disseminated Lupus Erythematosus

¹ Section of Medicine, Mayo Clinic and Mayo Foundation.
² Fellow in Medicine, Mayo Clinic and Mayo Foundation.
³ Section of Roentgenology, Mayo Clinic and Mayo Foundation.

From the roentgenologist's standpoint, collagen disease and disseminated lupus erythematosus should be considered in the case of any young woman who is suffering from an unexplained toxic state, and whose roentgenogram of the chest shows nonspecific pulmonary changes. A patchy type of pneumonia and pleural effusion, either with or without evidence of enlargement of the cardiac silhouette, are the most prevalent findings.

Disseminated lupus erythematosus does not present a characteristic appearance either on microscopic examination of pulmonary tissue or on roentgenographic examination of the chest. The roentgenographic changes noted in the lungs during the course of the disease do not always accurately reflect the pathologic changes that may be taking place in the lungs. At best, roentgenographic examination reveals that the lungs may be involved in the disease process and that a patient afflicted with disseminated lupus erythematosus is a likely candidate for other types of disease to involve the lungs.