SLE and dental erosion: a lethal cocktail

Trop Doct. 2014 Apr;44(2):122-3. doi: 10.1177/0049475514521805. Epub 2014 Jan 24.

Abstract

A 13-year-old Pacific Island girl presented complaining of fever, joint pain and dry mouth. She was using limes to relieve her dry mouth. On examination, the most striking clinical finding was severe dental erosion and caries. Autoimmune serology confirmed a diagnosis of systemic lupus erythematosus (SLE) with possible Sjögren's syndrome. The case illustrates the devastating consequence of excessive consumption of acidic citrus juice in sicca syndrome.

Keywords: Pacific Islands; immune.

MeSH terms

  • Adolescent
  • Anti-Inflammatory Agents / therapeutic use
  • Antirheumatic Agents / therapeutic use
  • Chloroquine / therapeutic use
  • Female
  • Fever / etiology
  • Fruit*
  • Humans
  • Lupus Erythematosus, Systemic / diagnosis*
  • Lupus Erythematosus, Systemic / drug therapy
  • Prednisolone / therapeutic use
  • Sjogren's Syndrome / diagnosis*
  • Sjogren's Syndrome / drug therapy
  • Treatment Outcome

Substances

  • Anti-Inflammatory Agents
  • Antirheumatic Agents
  • Chloroquine
  • Prednisolone