Clinical characteristics of male and female Korean patients with systemic lupus erythematosus: a comparative study.
OBJECTIVE
To compare the clinical characteristics and outcomes of systemic lupus erythematosus between male and female Korean patients.


METHODS
A retrospective analysis was performed at a single tertiary hospital from August 1994 to May 2010. Male patients were matched with two to three female patients based on age and disease duration. Organ damage was assessed using the Systemic Lupus International Collaborating Clinics/American College of Rheumatology damage index (SLICC/ACR DI).


RESULTS
Fifty-three male patients were compared with 150 female patients. Renal disorders were found more frequently in male patients at disease onset (p < 0.001); the adjusted odds ratio (OR) demonstrated a significant sex preponderance for renal manifestations (OR, 3.26; 95% confidence interval [CI], 1.62 to 6.57). Diffuse proliferative lupus nephritis and end-stage renal disease requiring dialysis during the disease course were more prevalent in male patients (p = 0.025 and p < 0.001, respectively). The risk for requiring long-term dialysis was significantly higher in male than in female patients (OR, 4.02; 95% CI, 1.07 to 15.06), as was the mean SLICC/ACR DI (1.55 ± 1.35 vs. 1.02 ± 1.57, respectively; p = 0.028).


CONCLUSIONS
Our data demonstrate that Korean patients with lupus have characteristics similar to those of cohorts reported previously. Male patients had significantly higher incidences of renal manifestations and organ damage.
Department of Medicine, Samsung Medical Center, Sungkyunkwan University School of Medicine, Seoul, Korea.
Jiwon
J
Hwang
Department of Medicine, Samsung Medical Center, Sungkyunkwan University School of Medicine, Seoul, Korea.
Jaejoon
J
Lee
Department of Medicine, Kangbuk Samsung Hospital, Sungkyunkwan University School of Medicine, Seoul, Korea.
Joong Kyoung
JK
Ahn
Department of Medicine, Jeju National University School of Medicine, Jeju, Korea.
Eun-Jung
EJ
Park
Department of Medicine, Samsung Medical Center, Sungkyunkwan University School of Medicine, Seoul, Korea.
Hoon-Suk
HS
Cha
Department of Medicine, Samsung Medical Center, Sungkyunkwan University School of Medicine, Seoul, Korea.
Eun-Mi
EM
Koh
D000328:Adult; D044466:Asian People; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D007166:Immunosuppressive Agents / Q000627:therapeutic use; D015994:Incidence; D053208:Kaplan-Meier Estimate; D007676:Kidney Failure, Chronic / Q000175:diagnosis / Q000208:ethnology / Q000628:therapy; D008180:Lupus Erythematosus, Systemic / Q000175:diagnosis / Q000208:ethnology* / Q000401:mortality / Q000628:therapy; D008181:Lupus Nephritis / Q000175:diagnosis / Q000208:ethnology / Q000628:therapy; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D015999:Multivariate Analysis; D016017:Odds Ratio; D015995:Prevalence; D011379:Prognosis; D006435:Renal Dialysis; D056910:Republic of Korea / Q000453:epidemiology; D012189:Retrospective Studies; D012307:Risk Factors; D017678:Sex Distribution; D012737:Sex Factors; D062606:Tertiary Care Centers; D013997:Time Factors; D055815:Young Adult
D007166:Immunosuppressive Agents
Male; Nephritis; Outcome; Sex; Systemic lupus erythematosus