title: High prevalence of systemic disease and mortality in Asian subjects with systemic lupus erythematosus.
abstract: All patients with systemic lupus erythematosus (SLE) (American Rheumatism Association criteria with positive antinuclear antibody titre) and who attended any of the three general hospitals in Leicester over a 10 year period were ascertained using several complementary sources. Eighty seven subjects (26 Asian, 61 white) were identified. The estimated prevalence of SLE in Leicester is 0.4/1000 for Asian and 0.2/1000 for white subjects. Mean age of onset of the disease was 24 years in Asian and 31 years in white subjects, with both groups showing a female preponderance. Proteinuria (greater than 1 g/24 h) was noted in 15 (58%) Asian and 21 (35%) white subjects; neuropsychiatric disease in 10 (38%) Asian and 8 (13%) white subjects; myalgic symptoms with raised muscle enzymes in 9 (35%) Asian and 3 (5%) white subjects. Nineteen (73%) Asian subjects were positive for extractable nuclear antigens as well, at some stage of their disease, compared with 6 (10%) white subjects. Immunosuppressive treatment was required in 12 (46%) Asian and 12 (20%) white subjects, and deaths of seven Asian and five white subjects were attributed to SLE. These findings show that Asian subjects have a higher prevalence of SLE with greater systemic disease and mortality.
authors.affiliation: Department of Rheumatology, Leicester Royal Infirmary, UK.
authors.forename: A
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Samanta
authors.forename: J
authors.initials: J
authors.lastname: Feehally
authors.forename: S
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: Roy
authors.forename: F E
authors.initials: FE
authors.lastname: Nichol
authors.forename: P J
authors.initials: PJ
authors.lastname: Sheldon
authors.forename: J
authors.initials: J
authors.lastname: Walls
mesh_terms: D000328:Adult; D001208:Asia / Q000208:ethnology; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D007165:Immunosuppression Therapy; D008180:Lupus Erythematosus, Systemic / Q000453:epidemiology* / Q000208:ethnology / Q000401:mortality / Q000628:therapy; D008297:Male; D015995:Prevalence; D006113:United Kingdom / Q000453:epidemiology