[Clinico-biological issues of systemic lupus erythematosus patients].

AIM: To investigate clinical and biological aspects and to evaluate potential relation with activity and damage indexes in patients with Systemic Lupus Erythematosus (SLE).

MATERIAL AND METHODS: Retrospective observational study in 30 consecutive SLE patients (ACR 1997 diagnostic criteria) assessed according to a standard protocol including demographic, clinical and biological (hematology, inflammatory, immunology) data, disease activity (SLEDAI) and damage (SLICC/ACR).

RESULTS: 90% SLE women with a mean age of 45.53+13.57 years and a mean age at onset of 31.10 +/- 9.20 years, presenting mainly with skin (43.33%) and small joint (56.66%) involvement, but also with renal (26.66%), cardio-vascular (26.66%) and neurological (6.66%); high anti-DNA double stranded antibodies (30% cases; mean 40.63 +/- 71.62IU/L) and low C3 levels (26.66%; mean 100.63 +/- 26.06 IU/L) have been reported, while more than 76% SLE patients displayed a low disease activity (mean SLEDAI 4 +/- 3.64) and limited damage (mean SLICC/ACR 1.4 +/- 0.85). Statistically significant correlation (p < 0.05) have been identified between SLEDAI and SLICC/ACR (r = 0.477), anti-DNA double stranded and SLEDAI (r = 0.515) respectively SLICC/ACR (r = 0.404), age at onset respectively current age and SLICC/ACR (r1 = 0.495, r2 = 0.468).

CONCLUSIONS: The clinical and biological study based on data from consecutive SLE patients has offered a comprehensive approach of different disease subtypes in North-East Romania. The predominance of currently low disease activity and minimal damage disease profile could reflect either SLE particularities or the expected effects of early individualized therapy.