Cureus
Cure8 research brief
Why This Matters
GI perforation is a serious, potentially life-threatening complication that can occur in people with autoimmune diseases; this report highlights that perforation can happen during corticosteroid tapering and that careful exclusion of other causes is important.
Who Should Pay Attention
Patients with autoimmune disease on steroids; clinicians treating SLE or acute abdomen; surgeons.
Study Snapshot
Story typeResearch paper
Evidence typeResearch paper
Source depthJournal abstract
What To Know
This case report describes a 62-year-old woman with systemic lupus erythematosus (SLE) who developed an acute mid-transverse colon perforation while tapering prednisone.
She presented with sudden severe right-sided abdominal pain, nausea, vomiting, leukocytosis, lactic acidosis, and pneumoperitoneum on CT; surgery revealed a solitary perforation treated with segmental colectomy and primary anastomosis.
Histology showed full-thickness ulceration with acute-on-chronic inflammation but no vasculitis, IBD, granulomas, or malignancy.
The authors treat corticosteroid-associated perforation as a diagnosis of exclusion and emphasize early source control (surgical management), thorough pathological review to exclude vasculitis or other causes, and postoperative reassessment of glucocorticoid exposure and steroid-sparing options.
The report is descriptive and based on a single patient; it does not establish causation between steroid tapering and perforation.
Keep In Mind
Single-patient case report summarized from the article abstract; does not prove causation between steroid tapering and perforation.
Source Details
Review the original publication for the complete reporting, methods, and context.
Research paper
Evidence type derived from source or registry metadata.
PublicationCureus
AuthorsRidwan A Lawal, Nestor Malaga, Nida Asif +2 more
Study typeArticle
Indexed viaOpenAlex
Source typeResearch paper
PublishedJul 12, 2026, 12:00 AM
Content availableJournal abstract
This Cure8 brief is based on source text from the linked article. Cure8 is informational only and is not a substitute for professional medical advice, diagnosis, or treatment.
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