Digestive manifestations in systemic lupus erythematosus

Systemic lupus eritematosus (SLE) may involve different viscera and systems. The most frequent clinical manifestation is represented by poliarthritis, oral ulcers, rash. Digestive manifestations are related to natural development of SLE or to side effects of medication. Almost half of SLE suffering patients complain of anorexia, nausea, vomiting. The incidence of digestive manifestations vary largely between 1 and 27% and consists of: lupus pancreatitis, lupus enteritis, pneumatosis cystoides intestinalis, oral ulcers, intestinal pseudoobstruction, protein loosing gastropathy, mesenteric ischemia. The aknowledgement of digestive involvement in SLE carries an important significance in relation to an optimal diagnostic and therapeutic management of the disease.