Gastrointestinal Manifestation of Systemic Lupus Erythematosus: Lupus Enteritis

Systemic Lupus Erythematosus (SLE) is a multi-system autoimmune disorder with a wide range of symptoms, including gastrointestinal involvement, which can vary from mild to severe conditions like lupus enteritis. Lupus enteritis, characterized by inflammation of the small bowel, was defined by the British Isles Lupus Assessment Group in 2004 and is present in 0.2-9.7% of SLE patients, though it rarely appears as the initial symptom. Diagnosing lupus enteritis without prior SLE diagnosis is challenging. The case study presented a 21-year-old Asian woman with symptoms of diarrhea, vomiting, and significant weight loss, initially misdiagnosed and treated with antibiotics without improvement. Her medical history included a recent second-trimester abortion, and examination revealed vitiligo and anemia, but no other typical SLE symptoms like rash or joint pain.