title: Features of SLE in various ethnic groups in Israel.
abstract: OBJECTIVE
  To assess the association between the ethnic origin of patients with SLE living in Israel, and the clinical and laboratory features of SLE.
  
  
  METHODS
  A retrospective review of medical records was carried out. Patients were classified into 3 groups based on their ethnic origin: a) Ashkenazi Jews, b) Sepharadic Jews and c) Arabs.
  
  
  RESULTS
  The study included 74 consecutive SLE patients, 69 (93%) women and 5 (7%) men. Their mean age at diagnosis was 32 years and their mean disease duration was 6.4 years. There were 21 (28%) Ashkenazi Jews, 31 (42%) Sepharadic Jews and 22 (30%) Arabs. The demographics, the frequency of various clinical and laboratory variables of SLE, and the mean disease activity index score (SLEDA1) of the three groups were not statistically different.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  The ethnic origin of SLE patients living in Israel is not associated with the clinical and laboratory features of the disease.
authors.affiliation: Rheumatic Unit, Soroka Medical Centre, Beer-Sheva, Israel.
authors.forename: M
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Abu-Shakra
authors.forename: M
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Lorber
authors.forename: L
authors.initials: L
authors.lastname: Neumann
authors.forename: D
authors.initials: D
authors.lastname: Buskila
mesh_terms: D000328:Adult; D018912:Arabs; D003710:Demography; D005006:Ethnicity / Q000706:statistics & numerical data; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D007557:Israel / Q000453:epidemiology / Q000208:ethnology; D007585:Jews; D008180:Lupus Erythematosus, Systemic / Q000453:epidemiology / Q000208:ethnology* / Q000473:pathology; D008297:Male; D012720:Severity of Illness Index