Since pleural effusions can be caused by infection or conditions other than lupus, the physician may need to take a sample of the fluid and perform tests to determine the cause. Symptoms of pleuritis include severe, often sharp, stabbing pain that may be pin-pointed to a specific area or areas of the chest. The pain is often made worse by taking a deep breath, coughing, sneezing or laughing. Pleural effusions will usually respond to these medications or clear by themselves with time. Pneumonitis is inflammation within the lung tissue, which may be caused by an infection or by lupus.
Infection is the most common cause of pneumonitis in people with lupus.
Bacteria, viruses, fungi, or protozoa are organisms that can cause infection in the lung. Sometimes pneumonitis may occur without infection and is then called non-infectious pneumonitis. The diagnosis of pneumonitis requires blood tests, sputum tests and x-rays. Treatment of pneumonitis initially includes a course of antibiotics. If laboratory and other diagnostic tests show no proof of infection, then the diagnosis is likely lupus pneumonitis.