Clinical characteristics and prognostic analysis of 16 cases of systemic lupus erythematosus complicated with acute pancreatitis

Abstract

Objective To investigate the clinical characteristics and prognosis of patients with systemic lupus erythematosus (SLE) complicated with acute pancreatitis (AP). Methods From January 1999 to December 2013, the clinical data of 16 patients with SLE complicated with AP among the total 2 526 cases of SLE was collected. A retrospective analysis was performed and the clinical data of patients was classified and documented, which included general information, past history, clinical symptoms, laboratory findings, imaging findings, treatment and outcome. The rank sum test was performed for analysis of non-normal distributed measurement data, and the Fisher's exact test was used for count data analysis. Results The incidence of SLE complicated with AP was 0.63% (16/2 526). Among them, ten patients were mild acute pancreatitis (MAP) and six patients were severe acute pancreatitis (SAP). All patients were treated with fasting, gastrointestinal decompression, nutritional support, anti-acid, anti-inflammatory, glucocorticoid and somatostatin and so on. Six patients were cured, seven patients improved and three patients died (two SLE complicated with SAP, one SLE complicated with MAP). Compared with the SLE patients complicated with SAP, the SLE patients complicated with MAP were more easily to have lupus nephritis(6/6 versus 5/10, Fisher's exact test), hematological system injuries (6/6 versus 5/10, Fisher's exact test), liver injuries (5/6 versus 0/10, Fisher's exact test), more organs involved (mean 7 versus 3, Z=-3.225) and higher SLE disease active indexes (DAI) score (mean 13.5 versus 6.5, Z=-2.876); the differences were statistically significant (all P<0.05). Compared with the cured and improved SLE patients complicated with AP, lupus encephalopathy (2/3 versus 1/13, Fisher's exact test), more organs involved (mean 7 versus 5, Z=-2.276) and higher SLE DAI score (mean 21 versus 12, Z=-2.195) was more common in dead SLE patients complicated with AP; the differences were statistically significant (all P<0.05). Conclusions SLE patients complicated with SAP are more easily to get lupus nephritis, hematological system injuries, liver injuries, activity of SLE and multiple-organ systems involved. The prognosis of SLE patients complicated with AP was poor in those with activity of SLE, multiple-organ involved and lupus encephalopathy. Key words: Lupus erythematosus, systemic; Acute pancreatitis; Clinical characteristics; Prognosis