ABDOMINAL COMPUTED-TOMOGRAPHY IN SYSTEMIC LUPUS-ERYTHEMATOSUS

Sixty-five abdominal computed tomography (CT) scans of 54 systemic lup us erythematosus (SLE) patients mere retrospectively evaluated togethe r with their clinical records. This was to assess the spectrum of CT f indings and to determine the value of abdominal CT in this group of pa tients. Over a 3.5-year period, abdominal CT scans had been requested for suspected renal vein or inferior vena cava thrombosis (n = 52, 80% ), sepsis, mesenteric ischaemia, Conn's syndrome, evaluation of hepato splenomegaly, portal hypertension and hydronephrosis. The most frequen t indication for CT was suspected renal vein thrombosis (RVT). An SLE patient with previously stable renal function who rapidly develops nep hrotic syndrome with deteriorating renal function has an increased ris k of thromboembolic phenomenon. Also, renal vein thrombosis is difficu lt to diagnose clinically and prompt anticoagulation can help preserve remaining renal function. Of those with suspected RVT, two had RVT on ly and five had thrombosis in both renal veins and inferior vena cava. Two patients had CT features strongly suggestive of mesenteric ischae mia, one had bilateral hydronephrosis thought to be secondary to lupus cystitis and CT confirmed two abdominal abscesses. Other incidental C T findings were: subscapular renal haematoma, overall enlargement or d iminution of renal size, serositis, bowel wall thickening, splenic, he patic and pancreatic enlargement and mild para-aortic lymphadenopathy. Abdominal CT revealed many diverse findings and aided the management of these SLE patients.