Abstract
BACKGROUND & OBJECTIVE: SLE is one of systemic diseases, targeting young patients, so we try to study the one of factors that affected these patients. 
 
 The aim of our study is to describe the body composition in Iraqi lupus patients, and assess the effect of the disease activity, disease duration, treatment, and patients’ social class in development of sarcopenia. 
 
 PATIENTS & METHOD: Sixty women, age > 18years with SLE and 56 matched controls were studied. Disease activity measured by systemic lupus erythematosus disease activity index, and functional status measured by systemic lupus erythematosus quality of life questionnaire. Body mass index, waist circumference measured for patients and controls. Body composition analyzed by dual energy absorptiometry x-ray. 
 
 RESULTS: Mean age for patients was 31.75±10.06 years, and mean disease duration was 19.62±10.76 months. No differences in body mass index, central obesity, lean mass percentage, fat mass percentage, appendicular lean mass index, and bone mineral density between patients and controls. Z score was lower in lupus patients as compared with controls (-1.61±0.8 for patients, -1.26±0.71 for control, p= 0.013). Treatment with azathioprine found to decrease the risk of sarcopenia (p= 0.046). Medical social class and working social class show lower risk for sarcopenia compared to unemployed class (p= 0.003, 0.002 respectively). However disease duration, disease activity, using prednisolone, and functional status had no effect. 
 
 CONCLUSIONS: No significant differences in body mass index, fat mass percentage, lean mass percentage, and appendicular lean mass index in lupus patients and controls. Lupus patients have higher risk to loss their bone density.
Highlights
Systemic lupus erythematosus (SLE) is an autoimmune disorder in which organs and cells suffered from damage mediated by tissue-binding autoantibodies and immune complexes
Disease activity measured by systemic lupus erythematosus disease activity index, and functional status measured by systemic lupus erythematosus quality of life questionnaire
Z score was lower in lupus patients as compared with controls (-1.61±0.8 for patients, -1.26±0.71 for control, p= 0.013)
Summary
Systemic lupus erythematosus (SLE) is an autoimmune disorder in which organs and cells suffered from damage mediated by tissue-binding autoantibodies and immune complexes. In these patients, autoantibodies are present for years prior to the first clinical symptom (Bevra, 2013). In SLE, abdominal obesity as a key-feature of metabolic syndrome with pro-inflammatory and prothrombotic state contributes to atherosclerosis (Yang, 2016). Cytokines such as tumor necrosis factor alpha (TNF-a) are elevated in SLE and these have been linked to loss of fat-free mass (Roubenoff, 1992).
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