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Indian Journal of Emergency Medicine 12(2):p 75-79, April-June 2026. | DOI: https://doi.org/10.21088/ijem.2395.311X.12226.2
Case Report
An Unusual Complication of Systemic Lupus Erythematosus(SLE) Presenting with Features of Acute Heart Failure
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Attribution-Non-commercial 4.0 International (CC BY-NC 4.0)This license enables reusers to distribute, remix, adapt, and build upon the material in any medium or format for noncommercial purposes only, and only so long as attribution is given to the creator.
Indian Journal of Emergency Medicine 12(2):p 75-79, April-June 2026. | DOI: https://doi.org/10.21088/ijem.2395.311X.12226.2
How Cite This Article:
Arya R.P. Anand. An Unusual Complication of Systemic Lupus Erythematosus(sle) Presenting with Features of Acute Heart Failure. Ind J Emerg Med. 2026; 12(2): 75-79.Timeline
Received : November 25, 2025
Accepted : December 27, 2025
Published : June 30, 2026
Abstract
Background: Diffuse alveolar haemorrhage (DAH) is a rare but potentially fatal pulmonary complication of SLE. Aims: To describe an unusual presentation of DAH mimicking acute heart failure. Settings and Design: Emergency department case presentation. Methods and Material: Clinical assessment, laboratory testing, imaging (CXR, CT), echocardiography, and renal biopsy. Results: A 34-year-old woman with longstanding SLE presented with acute dyspnoea and hypoxia. CT chest revealed diffuse alveolar haemorrhage. She responded to corticosteroids and supportive therapy. Conclusions: DAH can mimic acute heart failure in SLE and requires rapid recognition for survival.
References
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- 3. Lundgren M.C., Molitor J.A., Spilseth B., Adeyi O. A Fatal Case of Diffuse Alveolar Haemorrhage in the Setting of Systemic Lupus Erythematosus: A Case Report and Review of Non-infectious Causes of Acute Pulmonary Haemorrhage in Adults. Case Rep Rheumatic 2021; 2021: 1–7.
- 4. Systemic Lupus Erythematosus Presenting with Alveolar Haemorrhage. PubMed PMID: 30305976.
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Data Sharing Statement
There are no additional data available. All raw data and code are available upon request.
Funding
This research received no funding.
Author Contributions
All authors contributed significantly to the work and approve its publication.
Ethics Declaration
This article does not involve any human or animal subjects, and therefore does not require ethics approval.
Acknowledgements
We would like to express our gratitude to the patients, their families, and all those who have contributed to this study.
Conflicts of Interest
No conflicts of interest in this work.
About this article
Cite this article
Arya R.P. Anand. An Unusual Complication of Systemic Lupus Erythematosus(sle) Presenting with Features of Acute Heart Failure. Ind J Emerg Med. 2026; 12(2): 75-79.
Licence:
Attribution-Non-commercial 4.0 International (CC BY-NC 4.0)This license enables reusers to distribute, remix, adapt, and build upon the material in any medium or format for noncommercial purposes only, and only so long as attribution is given to the creator.
| Received | Accepted | Published |
|---|---|---|
| November 25, 2025 | December 27, 2025 | June 30, 2026 |
DOI: https://doi.org/10.21088/ijem.2395.311X.12226.2
Keywords
Systemic lupus erythematosusDiffuse alveolar haemorrhageHeart failure mimicryCorticosteroidsSearch for Similar Articles
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Timeline
| Received | November 25, 2025 |
| Accepted | December 27, 2025 |
| Published | June 30, 2026 |
licence
Attribution-Non-commercial 4.0 International (CC BY-NC 4.0)
This license enables reusers to distribute, remix, adapt, and build upon the material in any medium or format for noncommercial purposes only, and only so long as attribution is given to the creator.
