A 45 year-old Indonesian woman was hospitalized in ordinary ward with the complaints of fever, nonproductive cough, dyspnea during exertions and arthralgias since 2 weeks before her admission. On examination, there were oral ulcers, rales in both of her lung bases, maculopapular rash on her forehead, cheeks, nose, palms and soles.
The characteristic autoantibodies for Systemic Lupus Erythematosus (SLE), such as antinuclear antibody (ANA), anti-double-stranded deoxyribonucleic acid (anti-ds DNA) antibody and anti-ribonucleoprotein (anti-RNP) antibody, were positive. Complement 3 level was low with normal level of complement 4.
Victoria Songster, Johannes J. Sadikin
