Abstract

Systemic lupus erythematosus patients in Egypt with pleuropulmonary involvement: clinical pattern

Author(s): Rasha E Gheith

Aim of the work

To study and dissect the clinical features of Egyptian systemic lupus erythematosus (SLE) cases with pleuro- pulmonary system involvement.

Cases and Method

All SLE cases admitted to the Rheumatology and Rehabilitation inpatient Department, Cairo University Hospitals, during the period from the times 2000 to 2013 were reviewed. Medical records of the cases were revised and data from cases with any clinical, pathological and radiological findings attesting the presence of pleuropulmonary system affection were anatomized.

Results

Pleuro- pulmonary involvement passed in265/402(65.9) cases. Pleurisy was the most common clinical finding in 163(61.5), pulmonary infection in57.7 and pleural effusion in24.5 cases. Less common instantiations were pulmonary hypertension (8.3), interstitial lung fibrosis (4.2) and verbose alveolar haemorrhage (n = 8; 3). The most common clinical symptoms were pleuritis casket pain (50.9) and cough (49.1). The most common bus- antibodies were antinuclear antibodies (Corpus) (94.7) andanti-dsDNA in159/183(86.8) cases. In the present study, the much- cutaneous instantiations was significantly associated with pleuro- pulmonary complaint (p = 0.001). Pulmonary affection was significantly associated with number of medicine input (p = 0.003). Casket infection was significantly related to the presence of other non pleuro- pulmonary infections (p = 0.034). Pulmonary infections were more apparent in cases with pleural effusion (P = 0.001), CNS instantiations (p = 0.002) and positive Corpus (p = 0.007). The number of medicines taken was significantly associated with the prevalence of casket infections (p = 0.002).

Conclusion

Pleuro- pulmonary system is one of the most generally affected systems in SLE. Pleurisy was the most common clinical finding followed by pulmonary infection.