SYSTEMIC LUPUS-ERYTHEMATOSUS FOLLOWING THYMECTOMY

The case of a female patient with preexisting ANA and antibodies (ab) to dsDNA, but no other conditions of systemic lupus erythematosus (SLE ), developing polyarthritis, photosensitivity, Raynaud's syndrome, vas culitic lesions, proteinuria and ab to Sm, RNP, Ro, La, Scl-70, Jo-1, cardiolipin and pANCA within 12 to 36 months after thymothymomectomy f or pure red cell aplasia (PRCA) is reported. Finally the coexistence o f SLE, thymoma, PRCA and the effect of thymectomy is discussed. In thi s case PRCA seems to be thymoma-associated and thymoma probably repres ents an early, uncommon manifestation of SLE.