From the Research
Serositis is primarily caused by autoimmune disorders, infections, and malignancies, with systemic lupus erythematosus being a significant contributor, as seen in a case report from 2021 1. The causes of serositis can be categorized into several groups, including:
- Autoimmune disorders, such as systemic lupus erythematosus, rheumatoid arthritis, and scleroderma, which trigger inflammatory responses affecting the serous membranes, as reported in a study from 2018 2
- Infections, particularly bacterial, viral, or fungal infections, which can directly invade serous tissues or cause inflammatory reactions
- Metabolic conditions, including uremia in advanced kidney disease and familial Mediterranean fever, a genetic disorder causing recurrent inflammation, as discussed in a study from 1993 3
- Malignancies, particularly lymphomas and metastatic cancers, which can infiltrate serous membranes
- Post-cardiac injury syndrome following heart surgery or myocardial infarction, which may cause pericardial serositis
- Radiation therapy to the chest or abdomen, which can damage serous tissues
- Trauma or surgery, which may directly injure these membranes A study from 2017 4 found that African-American ethnicity was a predictive factor for new pericarditis, and that hemolytic anemia, proteinuria, lymphadenopathy, and anti-Sm were predictive only of pericarditis. It is essential to identify and address the underlying cause of serositis, as treatment often involves anti-inflammatory medications, immunosuppressants for autoimmune causes, antibiotics for infections, or discontinuation of offending medications in drug-induced cases, as reported in a case report from 2014 5.