All issues > Volume 51(6); 2008

Case Report

Korean J Pediatr. 2008;51(6):655-659. Published online June 15, 2008.

Intestinal pseudo-obstruction as the initial presentation of systemic lupus erythematosus in a 13-year-old girl

Ky Young KY Cho¹, Tae Young TY Khil¹, Hye Mi HM Ahn¹, Sun Wha SW Lee², Jeong Wan JW Seo¹

¹Department of Pediatrics, School of Medicine, Ewha Womans University, Seoul, Korea
²Department of Radiology, School of Medicine, Ewha Womans University, Seoul, Korea

Correspondence Jeong Wan JW Seo ,Email: jwseo@ewha.ac.kr

Abstract

Intestinal pseudo-obstruction (IPO) is a rare and poorly understood manifestation of systemic lupus erythematosus (SLE), especially in children. The characteristic clinical feature of IPO is obstruction without an identifiable obstructive lesion. The authors a 13-year-old girl whose first symptom of SLE was IPO. The patient presented with a 3-day history of nausea, bilious vomiting, abdominal distention, and no bowel movement. Simple abdominal radiographs revealed mild dilatation with partial air-fluid levels in the small intestine. Abdominal CT and methylcellulose small bowel studies showed massive ascites, engorgement of the small mesenteric vessels, pleural effusion, and diffuse bowel wall thickening of the gastric antrum, duodenum. and jejunum. The delayed passage of contrast for 15 days after the methylcellulose small bowel studies was suggestive of decreased bowel motility. Laboratory findings were positive for ANA, anti-double-stranded DNA, anti-Smith and lymphopenia. After 10-day treatment with high-dose corticosteroids, the symptoms improved. IPO associated with SLE should be considered in the differential diagnosis for patients presenting with symptoms of intestinal obstruction. Early recognition of IPO in SLE and appropriate therapy are important for prevention of complications and unnecessary surgery. This case raises awareness among pediatricians that although rare, IPO can be the presenting symptom of SLE in children.

Keywords :Intestinal pseudo-obstruction, Systemic lupus erythematosus