[A clinical study of femoral head osteonecrosis in patients with systemic lupus erythematosus.].
OBJECTIVE
To investigate the clinical features of osteonecrosis of the femoral head (ONFH) in patients with systemic lupus erythematosus (SLE).


METHODS
The consecutive 461 SLE patients who underwent inpatient care in China-Japan Friendship Hospital were reviewed, the clinical data of 32 cases complicated with ONFH and 64 without ONFH as control was studied.


RESULTS
The incidence of ONFH in 461 SLE patients was 6.94%. 65.63% of the ONFH was diagnosed within the first 3 years of SLE. It was found that the incidence of vasculitis, osteoporosis, high level of blood platelet, serum low density lipoprotein cholesterol (LDL-C) and fibrinogen was higher in SLE patients with ONFH than that in SLE patients without ONFH (P < 0.05). When compared with controls, the ONFH initial glucocorticoid dosage and accumulative dosage of glucocorticoid within the first month or six months were significantly higher in SLE patients with ONFH (P < 0.05). There was no significant difference between two groups in sex, age, duration of SLE, dental ulcer, Raynaud's phenomenon, hypocalcemia, renal diseases, hypertension, anemia, positive anticardiolipin antibodies and immunosuppresive treatment (P > 0.05).


CONCLUSIONS
The incidence of ONFH in patients with SLE is relatively high within the first 3 years of SLE. The SLE patients with ONFH are more likely to have such clinical features as vasculitis, osteoporosis, high level of blood platelet, serum LDL-C and fibrinogen and exposed to high-dose glucocorticoid therapy.
Wang
Dong-Xue
DX
Department of Rheumatology Immunology, China-Japan Friendship Hospital, Beijing 100029, China.
Li
Gui-Ye
GY
Ma
Li
L
Wang
Guo-Chun
GC
D005271:Femur Head Necrosis; D005938:Glucocorticoids / Q000627:therapeutic use; D006801:Humans; D006973:Hypertension; D008180:Lupus Erythematosus, Systemic; D014657:Vasculitis
D005938:Glucocorticoids