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Life-Threatening Complications of Systemic Lupus Erythematosus

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Autoimmune Diseases

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Abstract

The major cause of death in longstanding lupus is accelerated atherosclerosis leading to cardiovascular disease. Early in lupus, the major causes of death are active lupus and infection. Life-threatening or organ-threatening lupus is not rare. Multiple organs including skin (necrosis), hematologic (thrombocytopenia, hemolytic anemia, neutropenia, catastrophic antiphospholipid syndrome, and thrombotic thrombocytopenic purpura), heart (pericardial tamponade, myocarditis), lung (alveolar hemorrhage, pulmonary hypertension), gastrointestinal (vasculitis, pancreatitis), adrenal insufficiency, and neurologic (myelitis) may be encountered.

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Authors and Affiliations

  1. Department of Medicine, Division of Rheumatology, Johns Hopkins University School of Medicine, 1820 E. Monument St., Ste. 7500, Baltimore, MD, 21205, USA

    Michelle Petri

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  1. Michelle Petri
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Correspondence to Michelle Petri .

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Editors and Affiliations

  1. Rayne Institute, Lupus Research Unit, St. Thomas' Hospital, London, SE1 7EH, United Kingdom

    Munther A. Khamashta

  2. Barcelona, Surgey, Hospital Clinic, Calle Villarroel, 170, Barcelona, 08036, Spain

    Manuel Ramos-Casals

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Petri, M. (2011). Life-Threatening Complications of Systemic Lupus Erythematosus. In: Khamashta, M., Ramos-Casals, M. (eds) Autoimmune Diseases. Springer, London. https://doi.org/10.1007/978-0-85729-358-9_2

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  • DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/978-0-85729-358-9_2

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