Generalized Lymphadenopathy as the First Manifestation of Systemic Lupus Erythematosus

Abstract

Lymphadenopathy (LAP) is a common but nonspecific feature of many diseases, representing a vast spectrum of etiologies such as infectious or inflammatory diseases, malignancies, and drugs. In systemic lupus erythematosus (SLE), it can be the first manifestation. We present the case of a 20-year-old female with a history of fever, night sweats, anorexia, and asthenia for five months. She also had diffuse generalized LAP. Although malignant etiologies were our major concern, an extensive workup for malignancy and infections was unrevealing. However, an autoimmune workup led to the diagnosis of SLE. This case shows that SLE can present as generalized LAP with constitutional symptoms, and hence it should be considered in the differential diagnosis.

Comparative analysis of F-18 FDG PET/CT images between scrub typhus and systemic lupus erythematosus

“…SLE is characterized by diverse symptoms, ranging from mild cutaneous and constitutional symptoms to severe organ involvement 16 . LAP is a frequent, albeit nonspecific, manifestation in SLE patients, making careful assessment crucial for accurate diagnosis and for preventing the acceleration of disease activity 17 , 18 .…”