Abstract

Background: Systemic Lupus Erythematosus [SLE] is an autoimmune disease. Autoantibodies can be present in many patients for a few years before the 1st clinical symptom appears. Considerable variation has been observed regarding various clinical manifestation of SLE among various ethnic groups as well as various geographical regions. This study was done to elucidate, clinical presenting features and various systemic manifestations, the biochemical parameters, inflammatory markers and immunological profile of the adult SLE in patients presenting to medicine wards of tertiary care centre.

Methods: All the adult SLE patients aged 18 years and above attending medicine OPD or admitted in Department of General Medicine during the study period from September 2017 to August 2019 were included in the study.

Results: In the present study, male:female ratio was 21:1 with most common age group being affected was between 25-44 years. Musculoskeletal system (66.66%) followed by mucocutaneous system(64.44%) were most common systems affected in this study. 23(51.11%) patients had organ threatening lupus affecting kidney and brain. Out of these 23 patients, 43.4% didn’t have mucocutaneous or musculoskeletal involvement at all which posed diagnostic challenge. ANA was positive in all patients. Anti dsDNA was commonest autoantibody found in this study. According to SLEDAI, 44.4% patients presented with severe flare.

Conclusion: The majority of patients belonged to age group of 25-44 years with a female predilection and ANA was positive in all patients. Out of 23 patients which had major organ involvement at presentation 43.4% didn’t have mucocutaneous or musculoskeletal involvement at all.

Keywords: SLE, lupus nephritis, neuropsychiatric lupus.