Idiopathic anasarca associated with oligoclonal gammopathy in systemic lupus erythematosus.

We describe a young woman with systemic lupus erythematosus with acute onset of severe idiopathic anasarca and the appearance of serum IgG kappa oligoclonal bands. We hypothesize that her anasarca was due to a defect in capillary permeability, perhaps related to the clonally restricted immunoglobulins detected in her serum.