Introduction: Systemic lupus erythematosus (SLE) is the autoimmune disease with the highest prevalence of pulmonary involvement, which ranges from 20% to 90% of the patients, depending on the criteria employed in the cohorts being studied (symptomatology or histopathology). More than 50% of the patients develop pleuropulmonary manifestations at least once during the course of the disease; likewise, pleuropulmonary involvement has been associated with a higher rate of mortality. The purpose of this study is to determine the frequency of respiratory symptoms, and abnormal lung function in a sample of Brazilian patients with systemic lupus erythematosus (SLE). Methods: Retrospective study of 55 SLE patients from a single Rheumatology Unit in Brazil; the patients fulfilling the ACR criteria for SLE. Demographics and clinical characteristics were recorded and the patients were evaluated using chest X-rays, pulmonary function tests (PFTs), and HRCT of the chest to find out the pulmonary involvement. Results: Thirty-two patients had respiratory symptoms, 45 (82%) patients had abnormal lung function, 25 (45.4%) patients had abnormal computed tomography and 20 (36.4%) patients had abnormal chest X-ray. Conclusion: Respiratory symptoms and abnormal lung function are common in SLE. Clinicians should consider pulmonary evaluation among patients with systemic lupus erythematosus with and without respiratory symptoms.
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