A 34-year-old female patient presents to the ER with sharp pleuritic-type chest pain. An x-ray shows an enlarged cardiac silhouette suggestive of pericarditis. On more careful questioning, the patient admits to a polyarticular arthritis involving the small joints of her hands. Her obstetrical history is positive for two third trimester spontaneous abortions. At this point, you would suspect which autoimmune process as the cause of her symptoms:
- Rheumatoid arthritis
- Systemic Lupus Erythematosus
- Wegener's granulomatosis
- Sjogren's Syndrome
- Scleroderma
Answer: B
Systemic Lupus Erythematosus
40-60% of patients with SLE have serositis (pleuritis and pericarditis). That, combined with joint pains, habitual AB - should cause you to order an ANA.
Know Your Content Blueprint
Systemic Lupus Erythematosus is covered in the NCCPA™ Content Blueprint Blueprint Musculoskeletal System (10%)
Review Topic: Systemic lupus erythematosus
