Abstract
THIS RETROSPECTIVE study is aimed at evalu ation of demographic and clinical aspects of sys temic lupus erythematosus (S.L.E.) in Riyadh, Saudi Arabia. Sixty-three confirmed and hospitalised S.L.E. patients were investigated in the major hospitals of Riyadh City during the period 1977-1985.
Females comprised 82.54% of cases. The average age for the total group was 25.95 ± 10.27 years. Only one case had a family history of S.L.E.
The pattern of signs and symptoms included the following in order of magnitude: fever (92%). arthralgia (87.3%), anaemia (76.2%), renal lesions (66.7%), butter fly rash (66.7%), miscellaneous affections ranged from 31.7% to 12.7%. The anti-nuclear factor was suggestive of S.L.E. in 95.2% of cases. DNA antibodies were indicative of S.L.E. in 66.7% of cases. L.E. cells were encountered in 65%.
In 65% of cases, no predisposing factor could be elicited. There was difficulty in diagnosis as shown by periods elapsing till confirmed diagnosis was made. Only 20.6% were diagnosed within the first three months and 49.2% were diagnosed within the first year. This signifies that almost 51 % of cases escape diagnosis during the first year and may lose the chance to have early treatment.
The improvement rate was 11.7%.
The case fatality rate was 15.3%.
The exacubation rate was 32.2%
Complications were encountered in 22% of cases.
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