SYSTEMIC LUPUS ERYTHEMATOSUS – DESCRIPTIVE STUDY OF 134 PATIENTS FROM A SINGLE CENTER
Authors:   Colentina Research Center, Colentina Clinical Hospital, Bucharest, Romania, Dima Alina ,   Carol Davila University of Medicine and Pharmacy, Bucharest, Romania, Badea Camelia ,   Colentina Research Center, Colentina Clinical Hospital, Bucharest, Romania,   Carol Davila University of Medicine and Pharmacy, Bucharest, Romania, Balanescu Eugenia ,   Colentina Research Center, Colentina Clinical Hospital, Bucharest, Romania, Caraiola Simona ,   Colentina Research Center, Colentina Clinical Hospital, Bucharest, Romania,   Carol Davila University of Medicine and Pharmacy, Bucharest, Romania, Delcea Caterina ,   Colentina Research Center, Colentina Clinical Hospital, Bucharest, Romania,   Carol Davila University of Medicine and Pharmacy, Bucharest, Romania, Ionescu Razvan ,   Colentina Research Center, Colentina Clinical Hospital, Bucharest, Romania,   Carol Davila University of Medicine and Pharmacy, Bucharest, Romania, Jurcut Ciprian ,   Dr. Carol Davila Central University Emergency Military Hospital, Bucharest, Romania, Nicolau Adriana ,   Colentina Research Center, Colentina Clinical Hospital, Bucharest, Romania,   Carol Davila University of Medicine and Pharmacy, Bucharest, Romania, Pompilian Valer ,   Colentina Research Center, Colentina Clinical Hospital, Bucharest, Romania,   Carol Davila University of Medicine and Pharmacy, Bucharest, Romania, Ramba Doina ,   Colentina Research Center, Colentina Clinical Hospital, Bucharest, Romania, Baicus Cristian ,   Colentina Research Center, Colentina Clinical Hospital, Bucharest, Romania,   Carol Davila University of Medicine and Pharmacy, Bucharest, Romania, Dan Gheorghe Andrei ,   Colentina Research Center, Colentina Clinical Hospital, Bucharest, Romania,   Carol Davila University of Medicine and Pharmacy, Bucharest, Romania
Published: August 2021

Introduction. Systemic lupus erythematosus (SLE) is a chronic autoimmune disease of unknown origins with increasing prevalence worldwide. Lupus clinical and immunological features are complex and heterogeneous, but peculiar characteristics in different population were described. Aim. Description of specific clinical and biological features of SLE patients. Methods. 134 patients fulfilling the 2012 SLE Systemic Lupus International Collaborating Clinic criteria were enrolled. Baseline characteristics and biological features (such as sex, age, age at disease onset, disease duration, tobacco and alcohol habits, cardiovascular and fracture risk factors) were collected in all consenting patients prospectively included. Also, disease activity scores such as Systemic Lupus Activity Measure (SLAM), European Consensus Lupus Activity Measurement, Systemic Lupus Erythematosus Disease Activity Index, and accrual damage Systemic Lupus International Collaborating Clinics/American College of Rheumatology index were assessed when data needed for these scores were available. Results. A number of 134 SLE patients, majority of feminine sex (89.6%) were enrolled. The mean ± SD age at inclusion and onset age were 46.4 ± 12.9 years and 36.5 ± 12.2 years. 19.4% of patients included were current smokers. Regarding comorbidities, 8.5% associated diabetes and 41.8% hypertension. Anti-deoxyribonucleic acid antibodies were identified in the antecedents of only 50.4% of the searched cases; higher proportion of positivity was found for lupus anticoagulant, respectively 70.9%. Joint involvement was the most frequent clinical criterion used to sustain the lupus diagnosis (110 patients, 82.1%), while the hematological one the most frequent involvement at inclusion (50 patients, 37.3%). 67.9% of patients presented SLAM score results less or equal to 5 points, 10.4% results between 5 and 8 points, and 21.6% of more or equal to 8 points. The majority of patients enrolled were under corticosteroid treatment (109 patients, 81.3%) and also an important part was receiving Hydroxychloroquine (108 patients, 80.6%). Conclusion. In this cross-sectional study, we presented important data related to general characteristics, biological parameters, immunological features, disease scores, and treatment principles in a single-center sample of SLE patients.