Cavitated pulmonary infarction in woman with systemic lupus erythematosus associated with antiphospholipid syndrome

Ponce F.L.; Goicochea J.L.; Damián M.M.; Rodriguez C.L.; Rodriguez D.S.; Melo F.G. · Anales de la Facultad de Medicina (2023) · DOI: 10.15381/anales.v84i2.24169

Resumen

Both systemic lupus erythematosus and antiphospholipid syndrome are autoimmune diseases with thromboembolic potential, especially due to the presence of thrombogenic antibodies. The lung is a common place where a thrombus usually settles and generates a thromboembolism, sometimes with subsequent infarction and cavitation. There are few studies reporting cavitary pulmonary infarction in a patient with lupus associated with antiphospholipid syndrome. We present the case of a 24-year-old woman with general symptoms and cavitated right lung lesion. She was initially treated as tuberculous or fungal infection. Laboratory tests and images guided and diagnosed lupus associated with antiphospholipid syndrome, complicated by pulmonary thromboembolism that later became cavitated. The patient improved considerably with anticoagulants, corticosteroids, and cyclophosphamide.