[Spontaneous rupture of extensor pollicis longus in systemic lupus erythematosus].

We report a case of spontaneous rupture of extensor pollicis longus of the left hand. This 63 year-old woman was treated with oral corticosteroids for 23 years because of systemic lupus erythematosus. Her hands had no deformity. This rupture was spontaneous and caused pain for 15 days. The treatment was surgical and consisted of an extensor indicis proprius transposition. There was no macroscopic tenosynovitis. The follow-up of one year showed a good result. Less than 40 spontaneous ruptures in systemic lupus erythematosus have been described in the literature; only seven cases were ruptures of hand tendons and only extensors. As far as we know, the spontaneous rupture of extensor pollicis longus has never been described in systemic lupus erythematosus. The role of corticosteroids is discussed.