We have located links that may give you full text access.
COMPARATIVE STUDY
JOURNAL ARTICLE
Role of specialty care in the management of patients with systemic lupus erythematosus.
Journal of Rheumatology 2002 June
OBJECTIVE: To determine the role of rheumatologists in the management of systemic lupus erythematosus (SLE).
METHODS: The lupus clinic database was searched for patients with 3 consecutive visits (every 3-4 months) of which the first 2 visits recorded a SLE Disease Activity Index (SLEDAI) of 0. The clinic notes were examined by a physician blinded to the SLEDAI score at the third visit. The physician classified the rheumatologist's action by the following scale: 1 = no change, 2 = closer followup, 3 = new investigations, 4 = increase medications, 5 = lower medications. All interventions (2-5) were further scored as being related to or independent of SLE.
RESULTS: Of the 142 SLE patients identified, 70 patients remained inactive (SLEDAI = 0) and 72 patients experienced flare (SLEDAI > 0) at the third visit. In total, 74% of patients, regardless of the status of disease activity, required intervention; 96% of interventions in patients with clinical flare, 72% with serological flare, and 63% with inactive disease were due to management of SLE. The most frequent intervention related to SLE in patients with clinical flare was increasing medication, while in inactive SLE lowering medication was the most common intervention.
CONCLUSION: Even after a period of relative disease quiescence the majority of patients with lupus require active intervention during a subsequent routine clinic visit. Most interventions are related to the management of SLE. Therefore ongoing monitoring by rheumatologists in the management of lupus seems prudent.
METHODS: The lupus clinic database was searched for patients with 3 consecutive visits (every 3-4 months) of which the first 2 visits recorded a SLE Disease Activity Index (SLEDAI) of 0. The clinic notes were examined by a physician blinded to the SLEDAI score at the third visit. The physician classified the rheumatologist's action by the following scale: 1 = no change, 2 = closer followup, 3 = new investigations, 4 = increase medications, 5 = lower medications. All interventions (2-5) were further scored as being related to or independent of SLE.
RESULTS: Of the 142 SLE patients identified, 70 patients remained inactive (SLEDAI = 0) and 72 patients experienced flare (SLEDAI > 0) at the third visit. In total, 74% of patients, regardless of the status of disease activity, required intervention; 96% of interventions in patients with clinical flare, 72% with serological flare, and 63% with inactive disease were due to management of SLE. The most frequent intervention related to SLE in patients with clinical flare was increasing medication, while in inactive SLE lowering medication was the most common intervention.
CONCLUSION: Even after a period of relative disease quiescence the majority of patients with lupus require active intervention during a subsequent routine clinic visit. Most interventions are related to the management of SLE. Therefore ongoing monitoring by rheumatologists in the management of lupus seems prudent.
Full text links
Related Resources
Trending Papers
Proximal versus distal diuretics in congestive heart failure.Nephrology, Dialysis, Transplantation 2024 Februrary 30
World Health Organization and International Consensus Classification of eosinophilic disorders: 2024 update on diagnosis, risk stratification, and management.American Journal of Hematology 2024 March 30
Heart failure with preserved ejection fraction: diagnosis, risk assessment, and treatment.Clinical Research in Cardiology : Official Journal of the German Cardiac Society 2024 April 12
Get seemless 1-tap access through your institution/university
For the best experience, use the Read mobile app
All material on this website is protected by copyright, Copyright © 1994-2024 by WebMD LLC.
This website also contains material copyrighted by 3rd parties.
By using this service, you agree to our terms of use and privacy policy.
Your Privacy Choices
You can now claim free CME credits for this literature searchClaim now
Get seemless 1-tap access through your institution/university
For the best experience, use the Read mobile app