Diseases of the respiratory system in systemic lupus erythematosus

Abstract The following paper discusses the aspect of respiratory system diseases, that are present in the course of systemic lupus erythematosus. Taking into consideration that SLE is a nonspecific systemic autoimmune condition, lungs as well as respiratory tract could be affected in the process of the disease. The main contributing factors are circulating antibodies and immune complexes, that are deposited in tissues. SLE affects mostly women in reproductive age and is characterized by variable intensity of symptoms. The most commonly observed are: hyperthermia, malar rash, erythematous-cicatrical skin changes, photosensitivity, oral ulcers, polyarthralgia, nonerosive arthritis with no visible changes in radiogram, pleurisy and pericarditis, neuropsychiatric disorders, renal changes, hematologic disorders, as well as, abnormalities in circulatory and respiratory system. The respiratory conditions include pleuritis with or without pleural effusion, lupus pneumonitis, pulmonary hemorrhage, interstitial lung disease, pulmonary thromboembolic disease, pulmonary arterial hypertension, alveolitis, bronchitis obliterans and inflammatory myopathy, as well as acute alveolar-capillary injury, which in the course of SLE is associated with deposits of immune complexes in pulmonary alveoli, capillaries and interstitial tissue.