PNEUMONITIS IN A LUPUS TWIN PREGNANCY - A CASE-REPORT

We describe a patient with systemic lupus erythematosus (SLE), whose p regnancy was complicated by fulminant lupus pneumonitis and pericardit is. Maternal disease responded to therapy and twin girls were delivere d, both with thrombocytopenia, one of whom died of an intraventricular haemorrhage. Pneumonitis is a rare complication of lupus in pregnancy which may be fatal. We suggest patients with previous severe pneumoni tis should have lung function tests at the onset of pregnancy, and tre atment be modified to suppress flare if there is any indication of sev ere pneumonitis in early pregnancy.