title: Recommendations for frequency of visits to monitor systemic lupus erythematosus in asymptomatic patients: data from an observational cohort study.
abstract: OBJECTIVE
  The aim of our study was to determine the optimal frequency of followup visits in patients with systemic lupus erythematosus (SLE).
  
  
  METHODS
  Patients followed in the lupus clinic over a 2-year period who had at least 3 visits and at least 18 months of followup were included. At each visit patients undergo a complete history, physical examination, and laboratory evaluation. The following variables that would not have been recognized by the patient were identified: proteinuria, hematuria, pyuria, casts, low hemoglobin, leukopenia, thrombocytopenia, elevated serum creatinine, positive anti-DNA antibodies, and low complement. When one of these variables was detected, it was determined whether it was new, and whether other features of activity were present. Thus isolated new variables of interest were identified. Descriptive statistics were used.
  
  
  RESULTS
  A total of 515 patients (89% female, 61% white) met the inclusion criteria, with an average of 6.1 ± 1.5 for a total of 3126 visits. The average length of time between visits was 3.8 ± 1.0 months. In the 515 patients, the variables of interest were the sole manifestation of SLE in 126 (24.5%) patients (in a total of 175 visits). The commonest manifestations were renal, low complement, and DNA antibodies followed by thrombocytopenia, low hemoglobin, and elevated creatinine.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  One in 4 patients with SLE seen over a 2-year period will have a solitary silent variable of interest that could be detected only by routine laboratory followup. Patients with mild or inactive disease should be followed with clinical and laboratory measures at 3-4 month intervals.
authors: University of Toronto Lupus Clinic and the Centre for Prognosis Studies in the Rheumatic Diseases, Toronto Western Hospital, Toronto, Ontario, Canada. dafna.gladman@utoronto.ca
authors: Dafna D
authors: DD
authors: Gladman
authors: Dominique
authors: D
authors: Ibañez
authors: Ioana
authors: I
authors: Ruiz
authors: Murray B
authors: MB
authors: Urowitz
mesh_terms: D000328:Adult; D005260:Female; D006296:Health Services / Q000706:statistics & numerical data*; D006801:Humans; D008180:Lupus Erythematosus, Systemic / Q000175:diagnosis* / Q000503:physiopathology; D008297:Male; D008991:Monitoring, Physiologic; D009819:Office Visits / Q000706:statistics & numerical data*; D017410:Practice Guidelines as Topic; D063189:Symptom Assessment / Q000379:methods; D013997:Time Factors
keywords: DISEASE ACTIVITY; LUPUS; MONITORING; OBSERVATIONAL COHORT; SILENT MANIFESTATIONS