A Case of Colonic Perforation during Steroid Pulse Therapy for SLE

Yasuhiro Inoue, Eiji Minato, Takayuki Yamamoto, Chikao Miki and Masato Kusunoki

Second Department of Surgery, Mie University, School of Medicine

A 24-year-old woman diagnosed with systemic lupus erythematosis (SLE) 7 years earlier was admitted due to lupus peritonitis associating SLE in August 1999. Despite intensive steroid pulse therapy, her abdominal pain intensified and radiological examination suggested intestinal perforation. An emergency laparotomy showed perforation of the transverse colon, which was partially resected followed by a colostomy was perfomed. Despite intensive treatment, she died of Disseminated intravascular coagulopathy (DIC) on postoperative day 35. Intestinal perforation associating SLE is rare but fatal, requiring strict follow-up and adequate therapy.

Key words
SLE, perforation, steroid pulse therapy

Reprint requests
Yasuhiro Inoue Department of Surgery, Mie University School of Medicine Edobashi 2-174, Tsu, 514-8507 JAPAN

Accepted
November 27, 2001

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