TITLE:
Atypical Manifestations of Systemic Lupus Erythematosus (SLE) in Elderly Men
AUTHORS:
Naveen Vithanage, Ihsan Ul Haq, Nirojan Karunanathan, Colm Quigley, Aidan Buckley, Jabran Hasan Khan
KEYWORDS:
SLE, ANA, Anti-dsDNA Antibodies, C3
JOURNAL NAME:
Journal of Biosciences and Medicines,
Vol.11 No.6,
June
21,
2023
ABSTRACT: This case report highlights the rare occurrence of SLE in an elderly male patient. Despite the unusual presentation, the team was able to make a diagnosis of SLE using a combination of an atypical clinical picture, with initial signs and symptoms of weight loss, anemia, leucopenia and arthlagia, in combination with investigation results, including a positive test for anti-dsDNA antibodies. A more indolent disease course, combined with non-specific initial manifestations and low prevalence within the elderly population, often leads to delayed diagnosis. This case underscores the importance of considering SLE in the differential diagnosis of elderly patients, even in those who do not fit the typical epidemiological profile.