title: Achilles tendinitis in systemic lupus erythematosus: search for an associated inflammatory disease.
abstract: OBJECTIVE
  Except for traumatic and iatrogenic causes, Achilles tendinitis (AT) is mostly encountered in the context of inflammatory rheumatic diseases. This study aimed to describe AT in systemic lupus erythematosus (SLE).
  
  
  METHODS
  Among 158 SLE patients who fulfilled the SLE criteria of the ACR classification followed between 1980 and 2013, we selected those who experienced at least one episode of AT not caused by traumatic or toxicity factors.
  
  
  RESULTS
  Eight patients (one male, seven females), median age 52 years (range: 35-68), presented with 11 episodes of AT within an average of 10.5 (0-21) years after SLE diagnosis. Clinical presentation of SLE was mainly cutaneous (eight of eight), and articular (seven of eight). Axial symptoms were reported in six patients, two of whom had HLA-B27-positive status, and fulfilled the Amor and European Spondylarthropathy Study Group criteria. Resolution of AT was good with nonsteroidal anti-inflammatory topical or systemic drug therapies, which kept SLE quiescent and avoided any increase of specific treatment.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  Although the association is rare, when AT occurs in SLE patients, physicians should look for associated spondylarthritis.
authors.affiliation: Department of Internal Medicine, Reference Center for Systemic Lupus Erythematosus Management ("Centre de compétence des maladies auto-immunes et systémiques"), Hôpital Robert Debré, Centre Hospitalier Universitaire de Reims (CHU), France pa.jarrotdj@gmail.com.
authors.forename: P A
authors.initials: PA
authors.lastname: Jarrot
authors.affiliation: Department of Internal Medicine, Reference Center for Systemic Lupus Erythematosus Management ("Centre de compétence des maladies auto-immunes et systémiques"), Hôpital Robert Debré, Centre Hospitalier Universitaire de Reims (CHU), France.
authors.forename: J
authors.initials: J
authors.lastname: Leone
authors.affiliation: Department of Rheumatology, Hôpital Maison Blanche, Centre Hospitalier Universitaire (CHU) de Reims, France.
authors.forename: P
authors.initials: P
authors.lastname: Brochot
authors.affiliation: Department of Internal Medicine, Reference Center for Systemic Lupus Erythematosus Management ("Centre de compétence des maladies auto-immunes et systémiques"), Hôpital Robert Debré, Centre Hospitalier Universitaire de Reims (CHU), France.
authors.forename: J L
authors.initials: JL
authors.lastname: Pennaforte
mesh_terms: D000125:Achilles Tendon / Q000473:pathology*; D000305:Adrenal Cortex Hormones / Q000627:therapeutic use; D000328:Adult; D005260:Female; D015796:HLA-B27 Antigen / Q000235:genetics; D006801:Humans; D008180:Lupus Erythematosus, Systemic / Q000150:complications* / Q000188:drug therapy; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D012189:Retrospective Studies; D025241:Spondylarthritis / Q000175:diagnosis* / Q000188:drug therapy; D052256:Tendinopathy / Q000175:diagnosis* / Q000188:drug therapy
chemical_list: D000305:Adrenal Cortex Hormones; D015796:HLA-B27 Antigen
keywords: Achilles tendinitis; Spondylarthritis; Systemic lupus erythematosus