Morbidity and Mortality in Systemic Lupus Erythematosus During a 10-Year Period

• DOI: 10.1097/01.md.0000091181.93122.55
• Publication Date: 2003-10-09T11:32:11Z
• Authors: Ricard Cervera; Munther A. Khamashta; Josep Font; Gian Domenico Seb...; Antonio Gil; Paz Lavilla; Juan Carlos Mejía; A. Olcay Aydintug; Hanna Chwalinska-...; Enrique de Ramón; Antonio Fernández...; Mauro Galeazzi; Merete Valen; Alessandro Mathieu; Frédéric Houssiau; Natividad Caro; Paula Alba; Manuel Ramos-Casals; Miguel Ingelmo; Graham R.V. Hughes
• Keywords: Serositis; Cytopenia; Malar rash

In the present study, we assessed frequency and characteristics of main causes morbidity mortality in systemic lupus erythematosus (SLE) during a 10-year period compared early manifestations with those that appeared later evolution disease. 1990, started multicenter study 1,000 patients from 7 European countries. All had medical histories documented underwent interview routine general physical examination when entered all were followed prospectively by same physicians ensuing 10 years (1990–2000). A total 481 (48.1%) presented 1 or more episodes arthritis at any time years, 311 (31.1%) malar rash, 279 (27.9%) active nephropathy, 194 (19.4%) neurologic involvement, 166 (16.6%) fever, 163 (16.3%) Raynaud phenomenon, 160 (16.0%) serositis (pleuritis and/or pericarditis), 134 (13.4%) thrombocytopenia, 92 (9.2%) thrombosis. When prevalences clinical initial 5 follow-up (1990–1995) (1995–2000), most found to be frequent years. Of patients, 360 (36%) infections, 169 (16.9%) hypertension, 121 (12.1%) osteoporosis, 81 (8.1%) cytopenia due immunosuppressive agents. Twenty-three (2.3%) developed malignancies; primary localizations uterus breast. Sixty-eight (6.8%) died, death similarly divided between SLE (26.5%), thromboses infections (25%). survival probability 92% was found. lower detected who beginning nephropathy (88% versus 94% without p = 0.045). (28.9% each) common while (26.1%) became cause last conclusion, inflammatory appear less after long-term disease, probably reflecting effect therapy as well progressive remission disease many patients. Meanwhile, prominent role thrombotic events is becoming evident, affecting both SLE.