Lupus nephritis associated with bacterial panperitonitis and lung alveolar hemorrhage.

A 36-year-old woman was admitted to the hospital with the diagnosis of nephrotic syndrome due to lupus nephritis. The patient had panperitonitis caused by Staphylococcus aureus as a complication, and an emergency laparotomy was performed. After the operation, the patient developed a massive lung alveolar hemorrhage. Methylprednisolone pulse therapy showed a marked effect on the lung hemorrhage. It is known that lung alveolar hemorrhages associated with systemic lupus erythematosus have a very high mortality; the present case is relatively rare because of the good response to steroid pulse therapy.