Gene/Protein Disease Symptom Drug Enzyme Compound
Pivot Concepts:   Target Concepts:
Query: UMLS:C0409974 (lupus)
 22,386 document(s) hit in 31,850,051 MEDLINE articles (0.00 seconds)

Infection is a frequent problem in patients with systemic lupus erythematosus (SLE), especially in those hospitalised with complications of disease. Infections contribute greatly to the morbidity of patients and are one of the commonest causes of death. The high frequency and unusual spectrum of infections can be attributed to the multiple disturbances of immune function in SLE in combination with the effects of immunosuppressive therapy. High doses of corticosteroids are particularly implicated as a risk factor for infection, although cyclophosphamide may also play a role. The majority of infections where a pathogen can be identified are due to typical gram-positive and negative bacteria. However, there is increasing evidence to indicate that opportunistic infections make a large contribution to the infectious mortality in SLE. Opportunistic infections are considerably under-reported due to difficulties in diagnosis pre-mortem and the fact that they can mimic or be superimposed upon active lupus. The presenting features of tuberculosis, listeriosis, nocardiosis, candidiasis, cryptococcal meningitis, Pneumocystis carinii pneumonia and invasive aspergillosis in patients with SLE are discussed in this review, with particular attention to presentation in SLE patients in Asia. Heightened awareness of the potential for opportunistic pathogens to infect SLE patients, together with earlier investigation and appropriate therapy for such infections, are likely to make a significant contribution to decreasing the mortality in patients with SLE.
 ...
PMID:Infections in systemic lupus erythematosus patients. 949 81

We present a patient with lupus nephropathy of 20 years of evolution in treatment with oral steroids who developed a meningoencephalitis associated to bacteraemia by Listeria monocytogenes. The patient was treated successfully with gentamicin and ampicillin for 6 weeks. Infection by Listeria monocytogenes occurs more frequently in individuals with some form of immunodeficiency like lupus disease, with a mortality around 30%.
 ...
PMID:[Meningoencephalitis by Listeria in the lupus disease]. 1635 91

Listeria monocytogenes infection (LMI) is a rare complication in systemic lupus erythematosus (SLE) patients, and it is associated with nonspecific clinical manifestations and is often mistaken with SLE flares. Several cases of LMI in SLE patients have been reported, with high mortality rates. This article describes five new cases of LMI in patient with SLE in a cohort of 174 patients (2.8%). All patients were women, with a mean age of 19.4 years (range, 5-29 years). Mean duration of SLE before clinical LMI was 2.8 years (range, 2-4 years). Recurrent infection was not evidenced. At the time of LMI, all patients had an inactive disease, receiving steroids and immunosuppressive treatment. Clinical picture of meningitis was present in two patients. All patients were treated with ampicillin, with resolution of clinical manifestations without sequels. In order to eliminate the intracellular forms of L. monocytogenes, trimethoprim-sulfamethoxazole was initiated, and an allergic skin reaction was presented in all but one patient. Our report highlights the unspecific clinical manifestations of LMI and these characteristics are initially challenging and may be interpreted as lupus flares. An accurate diagnosis and an early antibiotic treatment are essential to improve the outcome in these patients.
 ...
PMID:Listeria monocytogenes infection in patients with systemic lupus erythematosus. 2021 26