GASTRIC OUTLET OBSTRUCTION AS A PRESENTING MANIFESTATION OF SYSTEMIC LUPUS-ERYTHEMATOSUS

A patient with nausea and vomiting who subsequently proved to have sys temic lupus erythematosus is described. Although gastrointestinal invo lvement is common in systemic lupus erythematosus it is rare as an ini tial manifestation. Gastric outlet obstruction was shown on the air co ntrast examination while the mucosa at endoscopy was normal. The gastr ic symptoms regressed after treatment with high dose corticosteroids a nd a repeat air contrast examination of the stomach was normal. This s tricturing process may have been caused by a local peritonitis.