Clinical and Laboratory Signs Among Systemic Lupus Erythematosus Patients in Isfahan



Bonakdar ZS¹ ; Nasiri S² ; Karimifar M² ; Karimzadeh H¹ ; Salesi M² ; Motaghi P¹ Show Affiliations
Source: Journal of Isfahan Medical School Published:2012

Abstract

Background: Systemic lupus erythematosus is an inflammatory disease with unknown etiology which affects different organs in the body. Since lupus has different features in various ethnic groups, we decided to evaluate lupus patients in Isfahan, Iran. Methods: In this study, 200 patients (183 women and 17 men) with definitive diagnosis of the disease were evaluated in the rheumatology clinic, Alzahra Hospital, Isfahan, Iran, during 2004-2005. Findings: The mean age of patients was 31.6 ± 10 years. Clinical signs and symptoms due to which the patients referred to the clinic for first time referred included musculoskeletal symptoms (65%), hematological symptoms (57%), mucocutaneous signs (52%), general symptoms (fever, fatigue, weakness and lethargy) (41%), renal symptoms (28%), cardiovascular symptoms (14%), neurological signs (12%), cardiac and pulmonary defects (11%) and gastrointestinal symptoms (3%). According to the results, anti-nuclear antibodies appeared in 92% of the patients, anti-dsDNA antibodies in 81%, CRP in 25%, lupus anticoagulant in 72.5%, and IgM and IgG anti-cardiolipin in respectively 24.2% and 31.2%. Anemia with hemoglobin levels less than 10 mg/dl was seen in 49 patients (24.5%), leukopenia with white blood cell counts less than 4000/mm3 in 38 patients (19%) and thrombocytopenia with platelets less than 150,000 mm3 in 18 patients (9%). Erythrocyte sedimentation rates above 30 mm3 were also detected in 55% of the patients. Conclusion: Considering the diversity of symptoms in patients with lupus and the impacts these symptoms have on the disease prognosis, accurate examinations need to be performed routinely and as soon as lupus is diagnosed.