Systemic lupus erythematous presenting with hemorrhagic shock caused by gastric penetration of pancreatic pseudocyst: a case report

BACKGROUND: Systemic lupus erythematous that causes various organ damage is rarely associated with pancreatic lesion. To the best of our knowledge, no cases presenting with hemorrhage shock caused by gastric penetration of pancreatic pseudocyst due to lupus pancreatitis have been reported. Herein, we report a case of hemorrhage shock caused by gastric penetration of pancreatic pseudocyst due to lupus pancreatitis. CASE PRESENTATION: A 53-year-old Japanese man with a history of systemic lupus erythematous, pancreatic pseudocyst, and chronic pancreatitis complained of epigastric pain and had hematemesis. He visited our emergency room and was admitted in our hospital. Upper endoscopy showed that hemostasis was obtained; however, computed tomography scan was performed since he was suspected to have gastric penetration into hollow viscera. The computed tomography revealed accumulation of fluid around the pancreas and gastric penetration of pancreatic cyst. Blood test showed increased serum amylase level. These results suggest that the exacerbation of chronic pancreatitis causes the penetration. Surgery was considered; however, we took a wait-and-see approach since hemostasis was obtained. After that, he was in stable condition, although he suffered from fever and accumulation of left pleural effusion was observed by computed tomography. However, he had massive hematemesis and melena 9 days after hospitalization and died in spite of several treatments including blood transfusion. Autopsy revealed that he actually had pleural thickening, which is not caused by accumulation of left pleural effusion but by severe pleural inflammation. We therefore performed additional blood and urinary tests on the same day. The test results showed that he had a high titer of anti-double-stranded deoxyribonucleic acid (DNA) antibody, hypocomplementemia, and erythrocyturia, indicating that he had systemic lupus erythematous with high disease activity considering his fever and pleural inflammation. CONCLUSIONS: Patients who have systemic lupus erythematous with high disease activity have the potential to develop fatal complications due to pancreatitis, so appropriate treatments are required for such patients.