title: Hematocrit Level could Reflect Inflammatory Response and Disease Activity in Patients with Systemic Lupus Erythematosus.
abstract: BACKGROUND
  The previous study has reported the association of hematocrit (HCT) with inflammation in several diseases. But the role of HCT in systemic lupus erythematosus (SLE) remained unclear. We tried to evaluate the clinical significance of HCT levels in patients with SLE.
  
  
  METHODS
  A retrospective study including 127 adult SLE patients and 146 normal healthy controls was performed. HCT levels between SLE patients and normal healthy controls were compared, and correlations between HCT and clinical characteristics were evaluated.
  
  
  RESULTS
  HCT levels in SLE patients were significantly decreased as compared with the normal healthy controls and negatively correlated with C-reactive protein (CRP) (r = -0.336, p < 0.01), erythrocyte sedimentation rate (ESR) (r = -0.332, p < 0.01), and SLEDAI scores (r = -0.376, p < 0.01). HCT levels were also significantly lower in SLE patients with decreased C3 and C4 as compared with those in SLE patients with normal C3 and C4, indicating that HCT was positively correlated with C3 and C4 levels (r = 0.272, p < 0.01; r = 0.273, p < 0.01). HCT was decreased in SLE patients with the presence of anti-Sm and anti-RNP antibodies as compared with those without these auto-antibodies (p = 0.013, p < 0.01). After adjusting RBC count and hemoglobin level, multiple linear regression analysis showed that HCT was independently associated with disease activity in SLE patients. In addition, HCT levels were elevated after treatment.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  HCT is correlated with CRP, ESR, and SLEDAI, suggesting that HCT could reflect inflammatory response and disease activity in SLE patients.
authors: Min
authors: M
authors: Yang
authors: Ning
authors: N
authors: Ma
authors: Haitao
authors: H
authors: Fu
authors: Tingting
authors: T
authors: Wei
authors: Qingqin
authors: Q
authors: Tang
authors: Baodong
authors: B
authors: Qin
authors: Zaixing
authors: Z
authors: Yang
authors: Renqian
authors: R
authors: Zhong
mesh_terms: D000328:Adult; D001323:Autoantibodies / Q000097:blood; D015415:Biomarkers / Q000097:blood; D001799:Blood Sedimentation; D002097:C-Reactive Protein / Q000032:analysis; D002681:China; D003176:Complement C3 / Q000032:analysis; D003181:Complement C4 / Q000032:analysis; D005260:Female; D006400:Hematocrit; D006801:Humans; D007166:Immunosuppressive Agents / Q000627:therapeutic use; D018836:Inflammation Mediators / Q000097:blood*; D016014:Linear Models; D008180:Lupus Erythematosus, Systemic / Q000097:blood / Q000175:diagnosis* / Q000188:drug therapy / Q000276:immunology; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D011237:Predictive Value of Tests; D012189:Retrospective Studies; D012720:Severity of Illness Index; D016896:Treatment Outcome
chemical_list: D001323:Autoantibodies; D015415:Biomarkers; C038245:C3 protein, human; D003176:Complement C3; D003181:Complement C4; D007166:Immunosuppressive Agents; D018836:Inflammation Mediators; D002097:C-Reactive Protein