Infantile systemic lupus erythematosus presenting with pulmonary hemorrhage

Pediatr Nephrol. 2005 Apr;20(4):522-5. doi: 10.1007/s00467-004-1722-7. Epub 2005 Feb 17.

Abstract

Systemic lupus erythematosus in infants born to healthy mothers is a rare entity. We describe a male infant who presented at 1 month of age with pulmonary hemorrhage and glomerulonephritis due to systemic lupus erythematosus, confirmed serologically and histologically. He was managed with a combination of prednisone and intermittent cyclophosphamide, but also received mycophenolate mofetil, with a complete serological and clinical remission at 30-month follow-up. This case underscores the importance of a broad approach to the evaluation of pulmonary hemorrhage and glomerulonephritis in the very young and the need for aggressive immunosuppressive therapy to achieve sustained serological and clinical remission.

Publication types

  • Case Reports

MeSH terms

  • Cyclophosphamide / therapeutic use
  • Drug Therapy, Combination
  • Glomerulonephritis / etiology
  • Glomerulonephritis / pathology
  • Glucocorticoids / therapeutic use
  • Hemorrhage / etiology*
  • Humans
  • Immunosuppressive Agents / therapeutic use
  • Infant, Newborn
  • Kidney / pathology
  • Lung Diseases / etiology*
  • Lupus Erythematosus, Systemic / complications*
  • Lupus Erythematosus, Systemic / drug therapy
  • Male
  • Mycophenolic Acid / analogs & derivatives*
  • Mycophenolic Acid / therapeutic use
  • Prednisone / therapeutic use

Substances

  • Glucocorticoids
  • Immunosuppressive Agents
  • Cyclophosphamide
  • Mycophenolic Acid
  • Prednisone