Cervical tuberculous spondylitis associated with systemic lupus erythematosus

Study design: A case report or cervical tuberculous spondylitis associated with systemic lupus erythematosus (SLE). Infection is a frequent problem in SLE, especially in patients hospitalised with the complications of the dis ease. Tuberculous spondylitis very rarely occurs in SLE patients, and cervi cal involvement has not been previously reported. Case report: A 54-year-old female patient was admitted to our hospital with a complaint of neck pain radiating to her shoulder of 2 months duration. T he neurological examination was completely normal and radiological investig ations revealed narrowing, angulation and destruction of the end plates of the 5th and 6th cervical vertebrae. She has received corticosteroid and col chicine treatment for the diagnosis of SLE during the last 10 years. The an terior cervical approach was used and pyogenic material was debrided from t he C5-6 intervertebral space. and an otogenous bone graft with a Smith Robi nson type fusion was performed. Conclusion: High doses of corticosteroids are implicated as a risk factor f or infection in SLE patients. Early diagnosis and appropriate medical and s urgical treatment, as well as increased awareness of higher susceptibility to opportunistic infections, such as tuberculous spondylitis. are keystones for decreasing morbidity and mortality in patients with SLE.