High-resolution CT Findings of Pleuropulmonary Involvement in Systemic Lupus Erythematosus

To evaluate the high-resolution computed tomography (HRCT) findings of pleuropulmonary involvement in systemic lupus erythematosus (SLE), we analyzed HRCT findings of 12 patients of clinically confirmed SLE with respiratory symptoms. In four patients, HRCT findings before and after chemotherapy were compared. The common HRCT findings were ground-glass opacity (100%), bronchial wall thickening (66%), patchy parenchymal opacity (58%), septal or intralobular line thickening (58%), micronodule (58%), central core prominence (41%), small pleural effusion (91%), and pericardial effusion (33%). Follow-up HRCT obtained after treatment showed significant improvement of pleural effusion(4/4), pericardial effusion (3/3), pericardial thickening (1/1), patchy opacity (2/2), and ground glass opacity (2/4). But bronchial wall thickening (2/2) and micronodule (2/2) were not improved. Although there are no pathognomonic HRCT findings in SLE, bilateral small pleural effusion, ground glass opacity, subpleural patchy opacity, and micronodule are common and suggestive findings in the pleuropulmonary involvement of SLE.