title: Cytotoxic therapy in systemic lupus erythematosus. Experience from a single center.
abstract: The present survey of cytotoxic therapy from a single large lupus clinic has shown that approximately 33% of the patients have received cytotoxic therapy at some point in their course. These agents were initiated for a variety of manifestations, with renal manifestations being the major indication, accounting for 28.2% of the cytotoxic agents used. Other common indications for initiation of cytotoxic therapy included steroid sparing (18.4%), global flare (12.5%), neurologic manifestations (11.4%), and musculoskeletal (8.6%). Azathioprine, methotrexate, and cyclophosphamide accounted for 98% of all cytotoxic agents used. Azathioprine was the most frequently used cytotoxic drug (70%), followed by methotrexate (21.5%) and cyclophosphamide (9.4%). Cytotoxic agents were used sequentially in 12.5% of patients and in combination in 4.2% of the patients. Overall, the use of cytotoxic therapy appears to be beneficial in reducing global disease activity, as the mean SLEDAI fell by 2.59 (33%) over 6 months of cytotoxic therapy, and the mean steroid dose was reduced by 37% over the same time period. There was also an improvement in most organ-specific indications with the use of cytotoxic agents. Overall the cytotoxic agents were well tolerated, with 17% of the courses being discontinued due to a side effect. Cytopenia was the most common side effect necessitating discontinuation of cytotoxic agents.
authors.affiliation: Centre for Prognosis Studies in the Rheumatic Diseases, Toronto Hospital, Ontario, Canada.
authors.forename: P
authors.initials: P
authors.lastname: Rahman
authors.forename: S
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: Humphrey-Murto
authors.forename: D D
authors.initials: DD
authors.lastname: Gladman
authors.forename: M B
authors.initials: MB
authors.lastname: Urowitz
mesh_terms: D000293:Adolescent; D000328:Adult; D000368:Aged; D000477:Alkylating Agents / Q000627:therapeutic use*; D000903:Antibiotics, Antineoplastic / Q000627:therapeutic use*; D000963:Antimetabolites / Q000627:therapeutic use*; D002648:Child; D004359:Drug Therapy, Combination; D004361:Drug Tolerance; D005260:Female; D005500:Follow-Up Studies; D006801:Humans; D008180:Lupus Erythematosus, Systemic / Q000188:drug therapy*; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D013997:Time Factors
chemical_list: D000477:Alkylating Agents; D000903:Antibiotics, Antineoplastic; D000963:Antimetabolites