Objective: To explore the value of bronchoalveolar lavage as an emergency treatment for systemic lupus erythematosus (SLE) patients with concurrent diffuse alveolar hemorrhage (DAH).
Methods: A total of 21 SLE plus DAH patients were divided randomly into 2 groups. The patients in Group A received methylprednisolone 1000 mg/d for 3 days while those in Group B methylprednisolone 1000 mg/d for 3 days in combination with a bronchoalveolar lavage. Partial pressure of carbon dioxide (PaCO2), partial pressure of oxygen (PaO2), oxygen saturation (SaO2) and Borg scale (BS) for quantitative evaluation of dyspnea were recorded before and after treatment.
Results: Except for PaCO2, all other parameters of blood gas analysis in all patients in Group A (P > 0.05) were better after treatment than before (all P < 0.05). After treatment, PaO2 and SaO2 in Group B were higher than those in Group A (all P < 0.05), but PaCO2 was not markedly changed (P > 0.05). BS decreased significantly in both groups (both P < 0.01). And more decrease was observed in Group B as compared with Group A after treatment (P < 0.05).
Conclusion: Bronchoalveolar lavage plus a high-dose implosive therapy of methylprednisolone may alleviate hypoxemia and dyspnea in acute period of SLE complicated with DAH.