Life-threatening spontaneous splenic rupture with systemic lupus erythematosus: case report and literature review.

Although involvement of the reticuloendothelial system in systemic lupus erythematosus (SLE) is a well-recognised concomitant of the disease, spontaneous splenic rupture is an unusual occurrence. We observed a 54-year-old woman with SLE who had spontaneous splenic rupture during the late course of the disease and showed some changes histopathologically. The courses and the clinical characteristics of such patients are reviewed, and the diagnosis and treatment of these cases are discussed. Early evaluation for SLE patients with spontaneous splenic rupture should be considered and included in the differential diagnosis of acute abdomen, as it may affect follow-up and treatment, although the condition is rare.