Lupus Site - a guide for lupus patients and their families

Lupus can cause inflammation of the lungs, a condition called acute lupus pneumonitis.
It can also be caused by infection.�

Pneumonitis is diagnosed from a chest x-ray, blood & sputum tests.

Symptoms are shortness of breath, a dry cough, fever, chest pain & a blood-tinged sputum.

If it is caused by infection, antibiotics are used.
If there is no trace of infection, it is treated with steroids or cytotoxics & can be completely reversible.