Systemic lupus erythematosus (SLE), is a multifactorial, complex etiological disorder, characterized by inflammation and involvement of multiple organ systems including lungs. Objective: 1-To evaluate whether high resolution computed tomography (HRCT) helps in the diagnosis of pulmonary manifestations of SLE. 2-To study the pattern and extent of lung involvement using HRCT. Design: A Prospective cross -sectional clinical study. Period: Four years, July 2012 to June 2016. Setting: King Khalid University Hospital (KKUH) King Saud University (KSU), Rheumatology division Department of Medicine. Methods: This study included 113 patients attending outpatients or admitted as inpatients having respiratory symptoms and diagnosed as SLE according to American College of Rheumatology (ACR) classification criteria. Chest X-ray, pulmonary function tests, and HRCT chest were done. Investigations to detect other organ involvement were done. Pregnant females and patients having other connective tissue or occupational diseases were excluded. Results: Of the total 113 patients 102 were female and 11 males. Age of patients was 37.1 ±13.0 years. The HRCT abnormalities were pleural effusion, pleural thickening, atelectasis, ground glass opacities including nonspecific interstitial pneumonitis (NSIP) and usual interstitial pneumonitis (UIP), pulmonary arterial hypertension, pulmonary embolism and hilar lymphadenopathy. Conclusion: Various pulmonary manifestations are present in a significant number of symptomatic SLE patients and a variety of HRCT patterns can be seen to diagnose and treat them.

Systemic lupus erythematosus (SLE), is a multifactorial, complex etiologicaldisorder, characterized by inflammation and involvement of multiple organ systems includinglungs. Objective: 1-To evaluate whether high resolution computed tomography (HRCT) helpsin the diagnosis of pulmonary manifestations of SLE. 2-To study the pattern and extent of lunginvolvement using HRCT. Design: A Prospective cross - sectional clinical study. Period: Fouryears, July 2012 to June 2016. Setting: King Khalid University Hospital (KKUH) King SaudUniversity (KSU), Rheumatology division Department of Medicine. Methods: This study included113 patients attending outpatients or admitted as inpatients having respiratory symptomsand diagnosed as SLE according to American College of Rheumatology (ACR) classificationcriteria. Chest X- ray, pulmonary function tests, and HRCT chest were done. Investigationsto detect other organ involvement were done. Pregnant females and patients having otherconnective tissue or occupational diseases were excluded. Results: Of the total 113 patients102 were female and 11 males. Age of patients was 37.1 ±13.0 years. The HRCT abnormalitieswere pleural effusion, pleural thickening, atelectasis, ground glass opacities including nonspecificinterstitial pneumonitis (NSIP) and usual interstitial pneumonitis (UIP), pulmonaryarterial hypertension, pulmonary embolism and hilar lymphadenopathy. Conclusion: Variouspulmonary manifestations are present in a significant number of symptomatic SLE patients anda variety of HRCT patterns can be seen to diagnose and treat them.