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Gastrointestinal Manifestations of Systemic Lupus Erythematosus

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Lupus Erythematosus

Abstract

Gastrointestinal (GI) manifestations are common in patients with systemic lupus erythematosus (SLE). Sir William Osler was the first to emphasize the importance of GI manifestations in SLE and stressed that GI symptoms associated with SLE could mimic nearly any abdominal condition [1]. The GI tract is one of the most commonly affected systems in SLE. Incidence reports vary widely, but one autopsy study found that 60–70 % of SLE patients had evidence of previous peritonitis on post-mortem examination, even though only in 10 % of patients were the episodes clinically apparent while the patient was alive [2]. Other studies estimate the incidence of GI symptoms in SLE patients to be somewhere between 25 and 40 % [3–5]. Most GI manifestations are due to adverse reactions to potent medications and infection, while symptoms directly affecting the GI tract due to SLE are far less common than arthritis or nephritis in these patients [6].

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Authors and Affiliations

  1. Beth Israel Deaconess Medical Center, 330 Brookline Ave, Deaconess 311, Boston, MA, 02215, USA

    R. S. Kalman M.D. & J. L. Wolf M.D.

  2. Harvard Medical School, Boston, MA, USA

    R. S. Kalman M.D. & J. L. Wolf M.D.

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  1. R. S. Kalman M.D.
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  2. J. L. Wolf M.D.
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Correspondence to R. S. Kalman M.D. .

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Editors and Affiliations

  1. Brigham and Women's Hospital, Harvard Medical School, Div. of Rheumatology/Immunology/Allergy, Francis Street 75, Boston, 02115, USA

    Peter H. Schur

  2. Div. of Rheumatology/Immunology/Allergy, Brigham and Women's Hospital, Lupus Center, Francis Street 75, Boston, 02115, Massachusetts, USA

    Elena M. Massarotti

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Kalman, R.S., Wolf, J.L. (2012). Gastrointestinal Manifestations of Systemic Lupus Erythematosus. In: Schur, P., Massarotti, E. (eds) Lupus Erythematosus. Springer, New York, NY. https://doi.org/10.1007/978-1-4614-1189-5_12

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