Systemic Lupus Erythematosus

A 56-year-old female was referred to the anesthesia pre-assessment clinic for optimization prior to total knee arthroplasty. She had a 12-year history of systemic lupus erythematosus (SLE). Her SLE-presenting symptoms were malar rash, photosensitivity, arthralgia, and anemia. During the anesthesia consultation, she was also noted to have a history of hypertension and seizure disorder. Three years prior to this visit, she had a frontal lobe ischemic infarct resulting in left-sided hemiparesis which had fully resolved.