The lung in systemic lupus erythematosus: a survey of 104 patients with special reference to lupus induced pulmonary haemorrhage and its pathogenesis

The purpose of this review is to establish the incidence and the clinical and radiological characteristics of the massive lupus-induced pulmonary haemorrhage in patients with systemic lupus erythematosus (SLE). In 104 cases of SLE, 4 patients were diagnosed with pulmonary haemorrhage and they all fulfilled the following criteria: (1) rapidly progressing bilateral airspace consolidation; (2) a sudden decrease in the haemotocrit with a cough that produced bloody sputum and/or histiocytes with haemosiderin-laden macrophages in sputum or in the material from the bronchoalveorar washing.