[Severe infections in a cohort of patients with systemic lupus erythematosus].
OBJECTIVE
To study severe infectious complications in a cohort of patients with systemic lupus erythematosus (SLE).


METHODS
Retrospective study of 705 patients followed from January 1980 to January 2008. Data are expressed in percentages.


RESULTS
The frequency of severe infectious was 38.6%. The etiology was bacterial 54.4%, viric 30.4% and opportunist in 15.2% patients. Involved organs were: Lung 38.2%, kidney 48.9%, central nervous system 43%. 43.75% patients received pulsed ciclofosfamide therapy and 88.6% received glucocorticoids (39.7% pulsed). The mortality was 27.7%.


CONCLUSIONS
At present, infection is an important cause of mortality in patients with SLE. Early diagnosis of infectious complications is very important in SLE.
González León
Rocío
R
Unidad de Colagenosis e Hipertensión Pulmonar, Servicio de Medicina Interna, Hospitales Universitarios Virgen del Rocío, Sevilla, Spain.
Castillo Palma
María Jesús
MJ
García Hernández
Francisco José
FJ
Sánchez Román
Julio
J
D006801:Humans; D007239:Infections / Q000453:epidemiology / Q000209:etiology*; D008180:Lupus Erythematosus, Systemic / Q000150:complications*; D012189:Retrospective Studies; D012720:Severity of Illness Index