Pulmonary lesions of disseminated lupus erythematosus.

Two patients were seen recently with distinctive pulmonary parenchymal lesions due to disseminated lupus erythematosus. The more classic manifestations such as skin lesions, carditis, polyserositis, and nephritis, were not at first apparent, but typical L.E. cells were demonstrated in the peripheral blood of both patients, and the diagnosis was confirmed by further study. This prompted us to review the published descriptions of the pulmonary manifestations of this disease and to observe in our patients the clinical effects of adrenocortical hormone therapy upon the lung lesions.