Usefulness of intraoperative esophagogastroduodenoscopy in a patient with lupus enteritis.

A 19-year-old Japanese woman had melena 2 months after systemic lupus erythematosus was diagnosed. Colonoscopy showed diffuse ulceration with bleeding in the ileum, suggesting that the melena was due to ischemic enteritis associated with lupus enteritis. Because treatment with high doses of steroid, anticoagulants, and cyclophosphamide pulse was ineffective, surgical intervention was planned. On exploration, it was impossible to determine the extent of resection visually. Intraoperative esophagogastroduodenoscopy clearly revealed the border between the ulcer and normal area, permitting successful resection of the ileum and ileostomy. This is the first report to document the usefulness of esophagogastroduodenoscopy in surgical treatment of ischemic enteritis in a patient with systemic lupus erythematosus.