Silent Lupus Nephritis in Adolescent Male: A Case Report

Abstract

Systemic lupus erythematosus (SLE) is a multisystemic disorder, one of several diseases known as ‘the great imitators,’ because it often mimics or is mistaken for other illnesses. SLE symptoms vary widely and appear and disappear unpredictably. Diagnosis can thus be elusive, with some patients having unexplained symptoms of untreated SLE for years. Autoimmunity plays a major role in the pathogenesis of lupus nephritis (LN). LN is one of the most serious complications of SLE since it is the major predictor of poor prognosis. The immunologic mechanisms include the production of autoantibodies directed against nuclear elements. Here is a case report of a young male patient who presented with fever, and alopecia and was diagnosed as an SLE with LN.