title: Incidence and risk factors of infection in a single cohort of 110 adults with systemic lupus erythematosus.
abstract: Infection is a major cause of mortality in patients with systemic lupus erythematosus (SLE). This study describes infectious complications in SLE patients and analyzes the risk factors for infection at the time of SLE diagnosis and during the course of SLE in a case-control study. Of 110 patients enrolled, 42 (38%) had at least 1 episode of infectious disease. The incidence of infectious disease was 4.4/100 patient-years (py) with a total follow-up duration of 954 y. In multivariate analysis, independent predictors of infection at the time of SLE diagnosis were an SLE disease activity index (SLEDAI) > 12 (p = 0.01), C3 levels < 90 mg/dl (p = 0.01) and positive anti-ds DNA antibodies (p < 0.01). Frequent flare-ups (p = 0.04) and follow-up duration > or =8 y (p = 0.023) were also significant risk factors for infectious diseases. It is mandatory to closely observe SLE patients with risk factors for developing infectious diseases.
authors.affiliation: Department of Internal Medicine and AIDS Research Institute, Yonsei University College of Medicine, Seoul, Korea.
authors.forename: Su Jin
authors.initials: SJ
authors.lastname: Jeong
authors.forename: Heekyung
authors.initials: H
authors.lastname: Choi
authors.forename: Han Sung
authors.initials: HS
authors.lastname: Lee
authors.forename: Sang Hoon
authors.initials: SH
authors.lastname: Han
authors.forename: Bum Sik
authors.initials: BS
authors.lastname: Chin
authors.forename: Ji-Hyeon
authors.initials: JH
authors.lastname: Baek
authors.forename: Chang Oh
authors.initials: CO
authors.lastname: Kim
authors.forename: Jun Yong
authors.initials: JY
authors.lastname: Choi
authors.forename: Young Goo
authors.initials: YG
authors.lastname: Song
authors.forename: June Myung
authors.initials: JM
authors.lastname: Kim
mesh_terms: D000328:Adult; D000974:Antibodies, Antinuclear / Q000097:blood; D016022:Case-Control Studies; D003141:Communicable Diseases / Q000453:epidemiology* / Q000209:etiology*; D003176:Complement C3 / Q000032:analysis; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D015994:Incidence; D007723:Korea / Q000453:epidemiology; D008180:Lupus Erythematosus, Systemic / Q000150:complications*; D008297:Male; D008499:Medical Records; D012189:Retrospective Studies; D012307:Risk Factors
chemical_list: D000974:Antibodies, Antinuclear; D003176:Complement C3