Disseminated intravascular coagulation in lupus erythematosus responding to prednisone therapy.

A 48-year-old man with systemic lupus erythematosus (SLE) developed disseminated intravascular coagulation (DIC) with clinical bleeding. Since no other cause for DIC could be demonstrated, he was treated with prednisone, which rapidly corrected his DIC. This case demonstrates the need for a complete hematological investigation of patients with SLE who present with hemostatic abnormalities.