Pulmonary manifestations of systemic lupus erythematosus

Systemic lupus erythematous (SLE) is an autoimmune disease affecting mostly women of child-bearing age. Its pathogenesis is not clearly understood, but it is recognized that nearly any organ in the body can be affected. SLE has many pulmonary manifestations, which can range from asymptomatic parenchymal disease to acute hypoxemic respiratory failure. In this chapter, we will focus specifically on these pulmonary manifestations: pleural disease, acute lupus pneumonitis, diffuse alveolar hemorrhage, interstitial lung disease, airways disease, pulmonary arterial hypertension, antiphospholipid syndrome, shrinking lung syndrome, and acute reversible causes of hypoxemia.