Aseptic necrosis of unilateral scaphoid bone in systemic lupus erythematosus.

An SLE patient developed aseptic necrosis of the right scaphoid bone 4 years after an episode of aseptic necrosis of bilateral femoral heads caused by corticosteroid treatment. Since the aseptic necrosis of the right scaphoid bone was preceded by the insidious exacerbation of SLE as evidenced by facial erythema, it was considered to be a result of vasculopathy due to active SLE. It took 14 months to make a correct diagnosis of the aseptic necrosis of the scaphoid bone by a chanced roentgenogram for the routine evaluation for osteoporosis. Therefore, the importance of an awareness of this possibility and repeated radiographic examinations is emphasized for the correct diagnosis of joint manifestations in SLE.