Tuberculous serositis in patient with systemic lupus erythematosus - Case report and literature review

It is a case report of young female that had diagnostic criteria of Systemic Lupus Erithematosus in activity, according American Rheumatology Association. The patient had fever, anemia, arthritis, cellular casts, positive LE cells, positive antinuclear antibody. She has evolved to bilateral pleural effusion and pericardic effusion that both have been initially attributed to lupus. Due to she has also maintained low fever, sudoresis, loss of weight and a persistent serositis, a thoracocenthesis with pleural biopsy has been done and the result of it has revealed granulomatous chronic pleuritis, diagnosticing pleural tuberculosis. A peri-cardiocenthesis has also been done. After six months of anti-tuberculosis therapy, there was a regression of radiologic imaging. Some concepts referring to tuberculosis and systemic lupus erythematosus are discussed, including symptons, diagnosis and specific situations. It is emphasized the necessity of early diagnosis and appropriate management of tuberculosis disease in lupic patients, in areas where tuberculosis is endemic.