Objective: To characterize the clinical characteristics of lupus mesenteric vasculitis (LMV).
Methods: Analyzing the clinical, laboratory and treatment data of LMV patients hospitalized from 2002.1.1 to 2007.12.31 retrospectively.
Results: (1) The three common manifestations were abdominal pain, diarrhea and vomit with the prevalence rate of 77%, 70% and 67% respectively. (2) The majority of LMV cases were active vital organ (28/30), kidney (24/30) and hematological system (18/30) were the main organs of involvement. Ten patients had hydroureteronephrosis, and 8 patients had intestinal pseudo-obstruction at the same time. (3) Systemic lupus erythematosus disease activity index (SLEDAI) score was > or = 10 in 80% (24/30) of patients. The progression of LMV was accompanied with new-onset leucopenia or worsening leucopenia or hypocomplementemia in 10 cases. (4) Blood antinuclear antibodies were positive in 27 patients detected, and anti-SSA antibody was positive in 15 (56%), anti-U(1)RNP antibody was positive in 14 (52%). (5) Fourteen cases had bowel wall thickening with target sign or mesenteric vessels with palisade or comb sign in contrast CT scan of abdomen. (6) Twenty-seven cases were treated with orally or intravenous medium to high dose steroid therapy and recovered from LMV.
Conclusions: (1) Abdominal pain, diarrhea and vomit were frequent manifestations of LMV patients. (2) LMV was one of the serious complications of systemic lupus erythematosus (SLE), and usually accompanied by active SLE in other organs. (3) A drop in the white blood cell count or complement C(3) titer might be correlate with the occurrence of LMV. It needs to further investigate the relationship between LMV and the high positive rate of anti-SSA and anti-U(1)RNP antibody. (4) LMV patients responded well to intravenous high dose methylprednisolone.