# A Rare Manifestation of Systemic Lupus Erythematosus: A Case of Lupus Cystitis in Puerto Rico

## TL;DR

This paper reports a rare case of lupus cystitis in a Puerto Rican man with SLE, emphasizing the importance of early diagnosis to avoid complications.

## Contribution

The paper presents a rare case of lupus cystitis in a male SLE patient, highlighting diagnostic challenges and management strategies.

## Key findings

- Lupus cystitis was diagnosed in a 36-year-old male with SLE through clinical and laboratory findings.
- Treatment with corticosteroids and immunosuppressive agents led to significant improvement in symptoms.
- Early diagnosis by healthcare providers is crucial to prevent severe complications in lupus cystitis.

## Abstract

Lupus cystitis is an uncommon, yet serious complication of systemic lupus erythematosus (SLE) marked by inflammation of the bladder and associated with significant urinary tract manifestations. The diagnosis of lupus cystitis can be very challenging as it often appears before the diagnosis of lupus has been established. This report presents the case of a 36-year-old male patient with a history of SLE admitted with gastrointestinal (GI) and urinary symptoms who was subsequently diagnosed with lupus cystitis and highlights the clinical presentation, diagnostic challenges, and management strategies in these patients. The diagnosis was confirmed through a combination of clinical examination and laboratory findings. Treatment with corticosteroids and immunosuppressive agents can lead to substantial improvement for which early diagnosis and recognition by primary care team providers in a hospital setting is pivotal as delayed diagnosis can result in significant morbidity. This report highlights the critical importance of considering lupus cystitis as a differential diagnosis in patients with systemic SLE patients presenting with urinary symptoms.