Ischaemic colitis in systemic lupus erythematosus--report of a case and review of the literature.

We report a case of perforation of the colon from systemic lupus erythematosus (SLE) presenting initially with diarrhoea and later with acute abdominal symptoms. She was found to have widespread arteriolitis involving the colon resulting in necrosis, ulceration and perforation with peritonitis and ultimately, death from septicaemia. Although intra-abdominal symptoms are not uncommon in cases of SLE, actual involvement of the gastrointestinal tract of a degree severe enough to warrant surgical intervention is a relatively uncommon phenomenon.