Clinical Features of Acute Lupus Pneumonitis

 

Clinical findings:

(1) dyspnea

(2) cough

(3) pleuritic chest pain

(4) fever

(5) hypoxemia

(6) unilateral or bilateral chest infiltrates on chest X-rays

 

Pathologic findings:

(1) focal or diffuse alveolar damage with necrosis and/or hyaline membrane

(2) microangiitis with or without microthrombi

(3) inflammatory cell infiltrate

(4) edema and/or hemorrhage

 

These may occur alone or be superimposed on another lupus pulmonary condition.