Progressive Dyspnea and Hypoxemia With Diffuse Pulmonary Infiltrates in a Previously Healthy Woman

Abstract

A 50-year-old woman presented with 3 months of cough, dyspnea, and fatigue. She also reported new fevers, night sweats, and a rash on her face and torso. On presentation she was tachycardic and tachypneic, with oxygen saturation of 81% on 2 L/min of oxygen. She was in mild respiratory distress. Results of the physical examination were remarkable for tender left cervical and axillary adenopathy and bibasilar pulmonary crackles. She had an acneiform rash on her face, chest, and back, consisting of multiple nonblanching erythematous or violaceous macules and papules (Fig 1) and had conjunctival edema. Admission laboratory test results were significant for a WBC count of 56,000, of which 79.5% were lymphocytes. Hemoglobin and platelet levels were normal. She was admitted for further management.