[Severe infections in a cohort of patients with systemic lupus erythematosus]

Abstract

Background and objective: To study severe infectious complications in a cohort of patients with systemic lupus erythematosus (SLE).

Patients and method: Retrospective study of 705 patients followed from January 1980 to January 2008. Data are expressed in percentages.

Results: The frequency of severe infectious was 38.6%. The etiology was bacterial 54.4%, viric 30.4% and opportunist in 15.2% patients. Involved organs were: Lung 38.2%, kidney 48.9%, central nervous system 43%. 43.75% patients received pulsed ciclofosfamide therapy and 88.6% received glucocorticoids (39.7% pulsed). The mortality was 27.7%.

Conclusions: At present, infection is an important cause of mortality in patients with SLE. Early diagnosis of infectious complications is very important in SLE.