{"status":"ok","message-type":"work","message-version":"1.0.0","message":{"indexed":{"date-parts":[[2026,1,30]],"date-time":"2026-01-30T04:28:53Z","timestamp":1769747333950,"version":"3.49.0"},"reference-count":24,"publisher":"BMJ","issue":"1","content-domain":{"domain":["bmj.com"],"crossmark-restriction":true},"short-container-title":["BMJ Case Rep"],"accepted":{"date-parts":[[2026,1,17]]},"published-print":{"date-parts":[[2026,1]]},"abstract":"<jats:p>Serous membrane involvement, including pericardium, peritoneum or pleura, may be observed in more than half of the patients with systemic lupus erythematosus (SLE). However, chylothorax, that is, accumulation of chyle in the pleural space due to SLE is exceedingly rare. The exact pathogenesis of chylothorax in SLE is elusive. SLE-derived inflammation of lymphatic vessels leading to endoluminal back pressure and increased permeability has been hypothesised as the mechanism of development of chylothorax. Due to the rarity of the condition, the ideal treatment protocol is unknown. We hereby present a case of SLE chylothorax with its management and 12-month follow-up. Initially, the patient responded well to immunosuppressive therapy with documented resolution of chylothorax; however, serositis recurred after tapering of steroids, which responded to rituximab.<\/jats:p>","DOI":"10.1136\/bcr-2025-268536","type":"journal-article","created":{"date-parts":[[2026,1,29]],"date-time":"2026-01-29T14:40:19Z","timestamp":1769697619000},"page":"e268536","update-policy":"https:\/\/doi.org\/10.1136\/crossmarkpolicy","source":"Crossref","is-referenced-by-count":0,"title":["Chylothorax secondary to systemic lupus erythematosus"],"prefix":"10.1136","volume":"19","author":[{"ORCID":"https:\/\/orcid.org\/0000-0002-4264-0706","authenticated-orcid":false,"given":"Avishek","family":"Layek","sequence":"first","affiliation":[{"name":"Pulmonary, Critical Care and Sleep Medicine, AIIMS New Delhi, New Delhi, Delhi, India"}],"role":[{"role":"author","vocabulary":"crossref"}]},{"given":"Muniza","family":"Bai","sequence":"additional","affiliation":[{"name":"Pulmonary, Critical Care and Sleep Medicine, AIIMS New Delhi, New Delhi, Delhi, India"}],"role":[{"role":"author","vocabulary":"crossref"}]},{"given":"Uma","family":"Kumar","sequence":"additional","affiliation":[{"name":"Rheumatology, All India Institute of Medical Sciences, New Delhi, India"}],"role":[{"role":"author","vocabulary":"crossref"}]},{"given":"Vijay","family":"Hadda","sequence":"additional","affiliation":[{"name":"Pulmonary, Critical Care and Sleep Medicine, AIIMS New Delhi, New Delhi, Delhi, India"}],"role":[{"role":"author","vocabulary":"crossref"}]}],"member":"239","published-online":{"date-parts":[[2026,1,29]]},"reference":[{"key":"2026012906401105000_19.1.e268536.1","doi-asserted-by":"crossref","first-page":"1645","DOI":"10.21037\/jtd-23-1636","article-title":"Chylothorax: pathophysiology, diagnosis, and management-a comprehensive review","volume":"16","author":"Bhatnagar","year":"2024","journal-title":"J Thorac Dis"},{"key":"2026012906401105000_19.1.e268536.2","article-title":"Chylothorax associated with sarcoidosis: a review of the literature","volume":"39","author":"Israeli-Shani","year":"2022","journal-title":"Sarcoidosis Vasc Diffuse Lung Dis"},{"key":"2026012906401105000_19.1.e268536.3","doi-asserted-by":"crossref","first-page":"396","DOI":"10.1080\/03009742.2024.2342053","article-title":"Rheumatoid arthritis with chylothorax: a case report","volume":"53","author":"Li","year":"2024","journal-title":"Scand J Rheumatol"},{"key":"2026012906401105000_19.1.e268536.4","doi-asserted-by":"crossref","first-page":"1107","DOI":"10.1007\/s10067-013-2248-9","article-title":"Chylothorax and chylopericardium in Beh\u00e7et\u2019s diseases: case report and literature review","volume":"32","author":"Zhang","year":"2013","journal-title":"Clin Rheumatol"},{"key":"2026012906401105000_19.1.e268536.5","first-page":"2135","article-title":"Refractory IgG4-related Pleural Disease with Chylothorax: A","volume":"60","author":"Sakata","year":"2021","journal-title":"Case Report and Literature Review Intern Med"},{"key":"2026012906401105000_19.1.e268536.6","doi-asserted-by":"publisher","DOI":"10.1001\/jama.2024.2315"},{"key":"2026012906401105000_19.1.e268536.7","doi-asserted-by":"crossref","DOI":"10.1186\/s43556-024-00217-8","article-title":"Systemic lupus erythematosus: pathogenesis and targeted therapy","volume":"5","author":"Su","year":"2024","journal-title":"Mol Biomed"},{"key":"2026012906401105000_19.1.e268536.8","doi-asserted-by":"crossref","first-page":"305","DOI":"10.1007\/s00296-016-3630-0","article-title":"The prevalence and risk factors for serositis in patients with systemic lupus erythematosus: a cross-sectional study","volume":"37","author":"Liang","year":"2017","journal-title":"Rheumatol Int"},{"key":"2026012906401105000_19.1.e268536.9","doi-asserted-by":"publisher","DOI":"10.1016\/j.ejcts.2007.04.024"},{"key":"2026012906401105000_19.1.e268536.10","doi-asserted-by":"crossref","DOI":"10.1097\/MD.0000000000023661","article-title":"Clinical characteristics of systemic lupus erythematosus with chylothorax and\/or chylous ascites: An analysis of 15 cases in China","volume":"99","author":"Zhang","year":"2020","journal-title":"Medicine (Baltimore)"},{"key":"2026012906401105000_19.1.e268536.11","doi-asserted-by":"crossref","first-page":"1400","DOI":"10.1002\/art.40930","article-title":"2019 European League Against Rheumatism\/American College of Rheumatology Classification Criteria for Systemic Lupus Erythematosus","volume":"71","author":"Aringer","year":"2019","journal-title":"Arthritis Rheumatol"},{"key":"2026012906401105000_19.1.e268536.12","first-page":"288","article-title":"Systemic lupus erythematosus disease activity index 2000","volume":"29","author":"Gladman","year":"2002","journal-title":"J Rheumatol"},{"key":"2026012906401105000_19.1.e268536.13","unstructured":"Hzarika B , Mk R , Medhi S , et al . The Pulmo-Face Case report Chylothorax in a case of systemic lupus erythematosus: a case report The Pulmo-Face. 2015;31\u20133. 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