Lupus enteritis: clinical characteristics and predictive factors for recurrence.
OBJECTIVE
To compare the clinical characteristics of lupus enteritis (LE) and non-enteric lupus (non-LE) patients and identify predictors of LE recurrence.


METHODS
We retrospectively reviewed the medical records of 62 systemic lupus erythematosus (SLE) patients in a tertiary hospital who experienced enteric symptoms and underwent abdominal computed tomography scanning between January 1997 and December 2013. We compared the clinical characteristics between LE and non-LE patients and between recurrent LE and non-recurrent LE cases.


RESULTS
Out of 62 SLE patients with enteric symptoms, 46 cases (74%) were compatible with LE based on computed tomography findings. The C4 level was decreased in the LE group compared with the non-LE group (9.0 ± 5.6 vs. 12.3 ± 6.2, p = 0.032). Recurrence of LE was observed in 14 patients (28%). Initial involvement at the colon (79% vs. 41%, p = 0.026) and bladder with/without the ureter was more common in the recurrent group (57% vs. 25%, p = 0.048). By multivariate analysis, the hazard ratios of variables associated with recurrence were 4.689 for colon involvement (95% confidence interval: 1.245-17.659, p = 0.0220] and 5.468 for cystitis with/without ureteritis (95% confidence interval: 1.629-18.360, p = 0.006).


CONCLUSIONS
Colon and urinary tract involvement in LE patients may be associated with the recurrence of LE.
Division of Rheumatology, Department of Internal Medicine, University of Ulsan College of Medicine, Asan Medical Center, Seoul, Korea.
B S
BS
Koo
Division of Rheumatology, Department of Internal Medicine, University of Ulsan College of Medicine, Asan Medical Center, Seoul, Korea.
S
S
Hong
Division of Rheumatology, Department of Internal Medicine, University of Ulsan College of Medicine, Asan Medical Center, Seoul, Korea.
Y J
YJ
Kim
Division of Rheumatology, Department of Internal Medicine, University of Ulsan College of Medicine, Asan Medical Center, Seoul, Korea.
Y-G
YG
Kim
Division of Rheumatology, Department of Internal Medicine, University of Ulsan College of Medicine, Asan Medical Center, Seoul, Korea.
C-K
CK
Lee
Division of Rheumatology, Department of Internal Medicine, University of Ulsan College of Medicine, Asan Medical Center, Seoul, Korea byoo@amc.seoul.kr.
B
B
Yoo
D000328:Adult; D015415:Biomarkers / Q000097:blood; D003181:Complement C4 / Q000276:immunology; D003556:Cystitis / Q000097:blood / Q000188:drug therapy / Q000473:pathology; D004751:Enteritis / Q000097:blood / Q000188:drug therapy / Q000473:pathology*; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D008180:Lupus Erythematosus, Systemic / Q000097:blood / Q000188:drug therapy / Q000473:pathology*; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D015999:Multivariate Analysis; D011237:Predictive Value of Tests; D011379:Prognosis; D012008:Recurrence; D012189:Retrospective Studies; D015898:Tomography Scanners, X-Ray Computed
D015415:Biomarkers; D003181:Complement C4
Systemic lupus erythematosus; lupus enteritis; recurrence