title: Systemic lupus erythematosus--survival patterns. Experience with 609 patients.
abstract: Six hundred nine private patients with systemic lupus erythematosus were followed up for a mean of ten years. Ninety percent were female; 79% were white. Three hundred sixty-nine received diagnosis before 1970, and 234 after. Three hundred seventy-nine did not have nephritis; 230 did. The overall ten-year survival was 79% (87% without nephritis, 65% with nephritis). Male patients did consistently worse than female patients. No overall white vs nonwhite difference was noted. The presence of nephrotic syndrome at the onset of nephritis was a poor prognostic sign, but its development later was not. Patients younger than 16 years without nephritis have an excellent prognosis. One hundred twenty-eight patients died (82 with nephritis, 46 without nephritis). The most common causes of death were renal disease and sepsis. Improved survival of this series may reflect closer follow-up, better nutritional status, and treatment at earlier stages of disease.
mesh_terms: D000293:Adolescent; D000328:Adult; D000367:Age Factors; D005260:Female; D005500:Follow-Up Studies; D006801:Humans; D008180:Lupus Erythematosus, Systemic / Q000401:mortality*; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D009393:Nephritis / Q000150:complications / Q000401:mortality; D009404:Nephrotic Syndrome / Q000150:complications / Q000401:mortality; D012737:Sex Factors