Pediatric patient with systemic lupus erythematosus & congenital acquired immunodeficiency syndrome: An unusual case and a review of the literature

Elizabeth C Chalom¹ , Fariba Rezaee² and Joel Mendelson³

¹Department of Pediatrics, Saint Barnabas Medical Center, Livingston, NJ USA

²Department of Pediatrics, West Virginia University, Morgantown, WV, USA

³Department of Pediatrics, Newark Beth Israel Medical Center, Newark, NJ, USA

author email corresponding author email

Pediatric Rheumatology 2008, 6:7doi:10.1186/1546-0096-6-7


Published:	1 May 2008

Abstract

The coexistence of systemic lupus erythematosus (SLE) in patients with congenital human immunodeficiency virus (HIV) infection is rare. This is a case report of a child diagnosed with SLE at nine years of age. She initially did well on non-steroidal anti-inflammatory agents, hydroxychloroquine, and steroids. She then discontinued her anti-lupus medications and was lost to follow-up. At 13 years of age, her lupus symptoms had resolved and she presented with intermittent fevers, cachexia, myalgias, arthralgias, and respiratory symptoms. Through subsequent investigations, the patient was ultimately diagnosed with congenitally acquired immunodeficiency syndrome (AIDS).