ORBITAL MYOSITIS SECONDARY TO SYSTEMIC LUPUS-ERYTHEMATOSUS

A 41-year-old woman presented to our department with a 2-year history of unilateral painful swelling of the right eye. Clinical and laborato ry evaluation ruled out endocrine, infectious and neoplastic disorders , and suggested the diagnosis of systemic lupus erythematosus. Echogra phic examination of the orbit and CT-scan revealed enlargement of the lateral and inferior rectus muscles at the right side, and enlarged me dical rectus muscle at the left side. Despite the involvement of the e xtraocular muscles the patient did not have any ocular motility defect s nor diplopia. The condition responded rapidly to systemic corticoste roids associated with immunosuppressive agents.