Infection combined with SLE--analysis of annual of the pathological autopsy cases in Japan

Abstract

Autopsy cases of SLE (systemic lupus erythematosus) with infection were studied by analysis ofannual of the pathological autopsy cases in Japan. For 19 years from 1958 until 1976, 1097 autopsy casesof SLE were reported in annual of the pathological autopsy cases in Japan. Five hundred twenty-sixcases (48%) combined with infection. Annual cases of SLE with infection tended to increase in numberyear by year, according to increase in numbers of total cases of SLE. But the ratio was almost constant. The result of classifying by age was as same trend as the above result. Major infectious manifestations incases whose direct causes of death were infection were pneumonia (3.5%), mycosis (3.3%), milialytuberculosis (2.5%) and sepsis (2.0%).There was no significant difference in annual numbers of these major infectious manifestations. Allcases were classified five groups by the causes of death (1. Related to SLE 2. Related to therapy 3. Unrelated to SLE 4. Multiple factors 5. Infection). Cases with infection were high frequent in Group 5 (100%) and Group 4 (83%). Contrary in Group 1 (22%) were low frequent. This result shows that infectionwhich combines with SLE is not directly related to the activities of SLE.