Coevality of Systemic Lupus Erythematosus With Sickle Cell Trait: A Not So Uncommon Entity

The coexistence of systemic lupus erythematosus (SLE) with sickle cell trait is quite sparingly reported in literature. Here, we narrate the case of a 17-year-old girl from Eastern India with sickle cell trait who presented with acute lupus pneumonitis. The challenges to the final diagnosis of SLE with sickle cell trait were because of the often lesser degree of clinical suspicion at the outset. In this report, we discuss this not so uncommon combination of conditions and review related literature. This girl, who was a known case of sickle cell trait, presented with fever, cough, shortness of breath with subsequent rashes, oral ulceration, high erythrocyte sedimentation rate (ESR) and proteinuria. After ruling out infective causes, she was found to be antinuclear antibody (ANA) positive and with stage 4 lupus nephritis. Emphasis should be given to the presence of autoimmune conditions in patients with sickle hemoglobinopathies, including sickle cell trait wherein atypical or systemic involvement may occur. Such association holds more importance as sickle hemoglobinopathies is one of the major hemoglobinopathies reported in this part of the country.