Shrinking lung syndrome

Shrinking lung syndrome in systemic lupus erythematosus patients; clinical characteristics, disease activity and damage

“…Another SLS case presented with arthritis, autoimmune hepatitis and polyserositis and the chest X‐ray showed bilateral elevated hemi‐diaphragms and atelectasis at both lung bases. The CT imaging revealed profound low lung volumes with compressive atelectasis with no evidence of ILD 28 …”

“…Respiratory dysfunction appears to be independent of the clinical course, duration and lupus antibodies (ANA and anti‐DNA). Prognosis is generally good and most patients improve on increasing the dose of steroids aimed at the subclinical respiratory myositis‐like process 28 . Respiratory muscle abnormalities have been implicated in the pathogenesis of the SLS and the link with a diaphragm dysfunction is probably not a straightforward one 12 …”