J Korean Rheum Assoc.  2004 Sep;11(3):281-285.

A Case of Left Vocal Cord Palsy and Pulmonary Hypertension in a Patient with Systemic Lupus Erythematosus

• Min SJ
• Kim CE
• Shin HJ
• Kim HJ
• An KS
• Kim DK
• Lee DI
• Lee CW

Abstract

Laryngeal involvement in systemic lupus erythematosus (SLE) is rare. It can range from mild ulcerations, vocal cord paralysis, and edema to necrotizing vasculitis with airway obstruction. The causes of vocal cord paralysis included vasculitis of the vasa nervorum, neuritis, thromboembolic effect on recurrent laryngeal nerves, and compression of the left recurrent laryngeal nerve by an enlarged left pulmonary artery. Few cases on the association of vocal cord palsy and pulmonary hypertension in SLE patient have been reported. We report a case of left vocal cord palsy and pulmonary hypertension in a patient with SLE who experienced improvement of vocal cord palsy and dyspnea after steroid pulse therapy.

Keyword

Systemic lupus erythematosus; Pulmonary hypertension; Vocal cord palsy

MeSH Terms

Airway Obstruction
Dyspnea
Edema
Humans
Hypertension, Pulmonary*
Lupus Erythematosus, Systemic*
Neuritis
Pulmonary Artery
Recurrent Laryngeal Nerve
Ulcer
Vasa Nervorum
Vasculitis
Vocal Cord Paralysis*
Vocal Cords*