To study the prevalence of pulmonary manifestations in systemic lupus erythematosus (SLE) using pulmonary function tests (PFT), chest X-ray and high resolution computed tomography (HRCT). Thirty-eight patients fulfilling the ACR criteria for SLE were enrolled and evaluated using chest X-ray, PFT and HRCT chest to find out the pulmonary involvement. Patients with known occupational lung disease or pregnancy were excluded. Thirty-five out of 38 patients were females. Clinical signs and symptoms referable to pulmonary involvement were present in 9 patients. HRCT showed abnormalities in 21 patients in contrast to pulmonary function abnormalities in 11 patients and chest X-ray abnormalities in 7 patients. The abnormalities on HRCT included interstitial lung disease in 15 patients, bronchiectasis in 3, pneumonia in 2, and pleural abnormalities in 7 patients. The overall pulmonary involvement was observed in 22 patients of whom HRCT detected abnormalities in 21 patients. Pulmonary involvement is present in a significant number of SLE patients as detected by HRCT. However, in the majority, it is asymptomatic.