Avoidance of radiotherapy-related, gastrointestinal complications in a patient with systemic lupus erythematosus: A case report and review of literature

• Main Author: Alsaeed Eyad
• Format: Article
• Language: English
• Published: Wolters Kluwer Medknow Publications 2009-01-01
• Series: The Saudi Journal of Gastroenterology
• Subjects: Gastrointestinal tract side effects; intensity-modulated radiotherapy technique; systemic lupus erythematosus
• Online Access: http://www.saudijgastro.com/article.asp?issn=1319-3767;year=2009;volume=15;issue=4;spage=268;epage=270;aulast=Alsaeed

Systemic lupus erythematosus (SLE) is associated with major gastrointestinal complications due to radiotherapy. A patient with active SLE and grade 4 nephropathy presented with inoperable advanced cancer of the cervix which proved to be contraindicated for chemotherapy. The patient was treated with intensity-modulated radiotherapy technique (IMRT). The patient, however, did not experience severe radiotherapy-related complications as expected with conventional techniques of radiotherapy. The tolerance of SLE patients to radiotherapy can thus be achieved by proper delivery of radiation and the sparing of normal tissues by IMRT although further confirmatory studies are required.