The Case of a Patient with Limited Systemic Sclerosis and Interstitial Lung Disease Overlapping with Systemic Lupus Erythematosus

Abstract

About 20% of patients with systemic sclerosis have symptoms of another connective tissue disease (CTD). Interstitial lung disease (ILD) is one of the most common organ manifestations in systemic sclerosis (SSc) as well as viral illnesses, such as COVID-19, and can lead not only to diffuse alveolar damage, but also trigger an exacerbation of fibrosis among patients with preexisting ILD. It is also associated with substantial morbidity and mortality. According to the World Scleroderma Foundation, SSc-ILD can mask or mimic early COVID-19 lesions and there are no available computed tomography guidelines on how to discern those two conditions. We present a case of systemic sclerosis exacerbation after COVID-19 in a patient with SSc-Lupus Overlap Syndrome.