DOI: 10.36347/sjams.2020.v08i01.010

Pages: 51-56

Background: Although patients with systemic lupus erythematosus (SLE) may experience various gastrointestinal disorders, SLE and ulcerative colitis (UC) rarely coexist. The gastrointestinal (GI) manifestations of these two diseases may be quite similar. Without a definite diagnosis, the physician may confuse the two diseases. We present the case of a patient with SLE and UC who developed abdominal pain and recurrent bloody diarrhea that was initially treated as SLE-related colitis to little effect. Case Presentation: A 33-year-old Moroccan woman with systemic lupus erythematosus (SLE) developed abdominal pain and diarrhea mixed with blood and mucus since the patient was aged 28 years that was initially treated as SLE-related colitis. Although a diffuse erythema and two superficial ulcerations in the descending colon were observed every examination, biopsy revelated only mild inflammation with no signs of specificity. Colonoscopy was performed again when the patient was 30 years because of the persistence of the bloody diarrhea with tenesmus. The transverse and descending colon and rectum showed diffusely Inflamed hyperemic colonic mucosa with multiple active ulcers. Macroscopic examination highly suggestive for UC. Histopathological examination revealed an aspect consistent with UC and no evidence of vasculitis. Introduction of specific treatment of the UC has considerably relieved the patient’s symptoms. Conclusion: Diagnostic criteria for UC and SLE overlap, making them difficult to diagnose correctly. It is important to consider UC for patients who have SLE with gastrointestinal.