Abstract

GUARNIZO Z., Pilar; RAMIREZ R., Francisco Alejandro  and  RAMIREZ G., Luis Alberto. Systemic lupus erythematosus and a splenic abscess. A case report and review of the literature. Rev.Colomb.Reumatol. [online]. 2006, vol.13, n.3, pp.228-232. ISSN 0121-8123.

Systemic lupus erythematosus is an autoimmune disease in which there is an increase risk of infections by common germ as by opportunistic germs. This fact is explained by the alterations in the humoral and cellular immunity, and phagocitic mononuclear system due to the disease and the immunosuppressive therapy use for its treatment. Multiple infectious processes has been described in patients with SLE and within them, the splenic abscess, although in few cases. Usually its presence is associated with an underlying disease such as sepsis or peritonitis, with multiple outcomes. Due to its low frequency as well as the unusual presentation, we reported a case of a solitary splenic abscess documented by ultrasound in a teenager with SLE and immunosuppressive treatment, without any underlying infection, who presented with fever, abdominal pain, leukocytosis and elevation of acute phase reactants. He received antibiotic therapy with clindamicyn and ceftriaxone and percutaneus drainage of the abscess guided by ultrasound and sent to culture in which grew a non typificable anaerobe germs, with a favorable evolution after 5 year of follow up.

Keywords : systemic lupus erythematosus; splenic abscess; treatment.

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