Nasal septal perforation has been considered a diagnostic criterion for systemic lupus erythematosus since 1971. However, little has been published in the otorhinolaryngologic literature regarding this lesion. We report six patients having asymptomatic anteroinferior nasal septal perforations and symptomatic lupus. No obvious clinical correlates were found. We support the hypothesis that nasal septal perforation in systemic lupus erythematosus is a common phenomenon, and attribute its infrequent detection to the asymptomatic nature of the lesion in this setting.
WillkensRFRothGJNovakAWalikeJ. Perforation of nasal septum in rheumatic diseases. Arthritis Rheum1976; 19: 119–121.
8.
KernEBFacerGWMcDonaldTJWestwoodWB. Closure of nasal septal perforations with Silastic button: results in 45 patients. ORL Digest1977; July, 9–17.
9.
TabataTSaitoTNishimuraA. A case of systemic lupus erythematosus with nasal involvement. Otolaryngology (Tokyo)1969; 41: 29–35.
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CohenASReynoldsWEFranklinECKulkaJPRopesMWShulmanLE. Preliminary criteria for the classification of systemic lupus erythematosus. Bull Rheum Dis1971; 21: 643–648.
11.
DuBoisEL: Lupus erythematosus. New York: McGraw-Hill, 1966: 190–191.
