title: Infections and systemic lupus erythematosus.
abstract: OBJECTIVE
  To determine the incidence of infections in a population of systemic lupus erythematosus individuals and the characteristics of infections regarding original site, as well as to study the possible associations between infections and treatment.
  
  
  METHODS
  An analytical retrospective study using data from medical charts of systemic lupus erythematosus patients from a single university hospital. A total of 144 patients followed up for five years were included. Data collected comprised age of patients and age at onset of lupus, sex and ethnicity, disease duration before the study period, medications, cumulative dose of prednisone, occurrence of infections and their original site.
  
  
  RESULTS
  The most frequent infections were urinary tract infections (correlated to use of prednisone - p<0.0001 and cyclophosphamide - p=0.045), upper airways infections (correlated to use of prednisone - p=0.0004, mycophenolate mofetil - p=0.0005, and cyclosporine - p=0.025), and pneumonia (associated to prednisone - p=0.017).
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  Prednisone was the drug more often associated with presence of infections, pointing to the need for a more judicious management of this drug.
authors.affiliation: Faculdade Evangélica do Paraná, Curitiba, PR, Brazil.
authors.forename: Thelma Larocca
authors.initials: TL
authors.lastname: Skare
authors.affiliation: Faculdade Evangélica do Paraná, Curitiba, PR, Brazil.
authors.forename: Jéssica Scherer
authors.initials: JS
authors.lastname: Dagostini
authors.affiliation: Faculdade Evangélica do Paraná, Curitiba, PR, Brazil.
authors.forename: Patricia Imai
authors.initials: PI
authors.lastname: Zanardi
authors.affiliation: Universidade Positivo, Curitiba, PR, Brazil.
authors.forename: Renato Mitsunori
authors.initials: RM
authors.lastname: Nisihara
mesh_terms: D000293:Adolescent; D000328:Adult; D000368:Aged; D000893:Anti-Inflammatory Agents / Q000627:therapeutic use; D018501:Antirheumatic Agents / Q000627:therapeutic use; D001938:Brazil / Q000453:epidemiology; D003520:Cyclophosphamide / Q000627:therapeutic use; D005260:Female; D005500:Follow-Up Studies; D006785:Hospitals, University / Q000706:statistics & numerical data; D006801:Humans; D015994:Incidence; D008180:Lupus Erythematosus, Systemic / Q000150:complications / Q000188:drug therapy / Q000453:epidemiology*; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D010787:Photosensitivity Disorders / Q000150:complications; D011241:Prednisone / Q000627:therapeutic use; D012141:Respiratory Tract Infections / Q000188:drug therapy / Q000209:etiology; D012189:Retrospective Studies; D014552:Urinary Tract Infections / Q000188:drug therapy / Q000209:etiology; D055815:Young Adult
chemical_list: D000893:Anti-Inflammatory Agents; D018501:Antirheumatic Agents; D003520:Cyclophosphamide; D011241:Prednisone