Prevalence, Prognostic Factors, and Survival Analysis of Systemic Lupus Erythematosus-Related Serositis

Abstract

Objective: To investigate the risk factors associated with systemic lupus erythematosus (SLE)-related serositis and its long-term outcome in Chinese patients. Method: Medical records of 609 hospitalized SLE patients who were followed up in Chang Gung Medical Center in Taiwan from 2005 to 2011 were retrospectively reviewed. Results: All 609 patients (89% women) who were fulfilled at least 4 of the ACR criteria for SLE and were included in the study. The mean ages at onset and at admission were 35.8 ± 16.5 years and 40.3 ± 16.0 years, respectively. Two hundred and thirty four patients (38%) had SLE-related serositis. 111 (18%) had pericarditis, 202 (33%) had pleuritis. 79 (13%) had concomitant pleuritis and pericarditis. Multivariate analysis indicated that the admission ages, proteinuria, thrombocytopenia, and lymphopenia, were independent predictors of serositis. Of the 609 SLE patients, 94 patients (15.4%) died during the study period. Of the 94 mortality cases, 63 patients had serositis. Multivariate Cox regression analysis indicated that the independent predictors of mortality were age ＞ 50 years at admission (Hazard ratio(HR) 3.10, p ＜ 0.001), thrombocytopenia (HR 3.23, p ＜ 0.001), serositis (HR 3.03, p ＜ 0.001), seizure (HR 2.13, p = 0.007) and leukopenia (HR 1.78, p = 0.041). Conclusion: This study underlines the prevalence and outcome of serositis in SLE, which is significant related to survival rates of patients. Survival was significantly lower in patients with serositis than in patients without serositis. Close follow up of SLE patients with serositis may be necessary.