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About 45% of SLE patients suffer gastrointestinal problems, including
nausea, weight loss, mild abdominal pain, and diarrhoea.
Severe inflammation of the intestinal tract occurs
in less than 5% of patients and causes acute cramping, vomiting,
diarrhoea, and, rarely, intestinal perforation, which can be life-threatening.
Fluid retention and swelling can cause intestinal
obstruction, which is much less serious but causes the same type
of severe pain.
Inflammation of the pancreas can be caused by the
disease and by corticosteroid therapy.
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