Lupus enteritis: clinical characteristics and predictive factors for recurrence

• Published in: Lupus 2015-05, Vol.24 (6), p.628-632
• Main Authors: Koo, B S, Hong, S, Kim, Y J, Kim, Y-G, Lee, C-K, Yoo, B
• Format: Article
• Language: English
• Subjects: Abdomen; Adult; Antibodies; Biomarkers - blood; Colon; Complement C4 - immunology; Confidence intervals; Cystitis - blood; Cystitis - drug therapy; Cystitis - pathology; Disease; Enteritis - blood; Enteritis - drug therapy; Enteritis - pathology; Female; Hemoglobin; Hospitals; Humans; Internal medicine; Laboratories; Lupus; Lupus Erythematosus, Systemic - blood; Lupus Erythematosus, Systemic - drug therapy; Lupus Erythematosus, Systemic - pathology; Male; Medical imaging; Medical prognosis; Medical records; Medicine; Middle Aged; Multivariate Analysis; Predictive Value of Tests; Prognosis; Recurrence; Retrospective Studies; Rheumatology; Survival analysis; Tomography; Tomography Scanners, X-Ray Computed
• ISSN: 0961-2033; 1477-0962
• DOI: 10.1177/0961203314558858

Objectives To compare the clinical characteristics of lupus enteritis (LE) and non-enteric lupus (non-LE) patients and identify predictors of LE recurrence. Methods We retrospectively reviewed the medical records of 62 systemic lupus erythematosus (SLE) patients in a tertiary hospital who experienced enteric symptoms and underwent abdominal computed tomography scanning between January 1997 and December 2013. We compared the clinical characteristics between LE and non-LE patients and between recurrent LE and non-recurrent LE cases. Results Out of 62 SLE patients with enteric symptoms, 46 cases (74%) were compatible with LE based on computed tomography findings. The C4 level was decreased in the LE group compared with the non-LE group (9.0 ± 5.6 vs. 12.3 ± 6.2, p = 0.032). Recurrence of LE was observed in 14 patients (28%). Initial involvement at the colon (79% vs. 41%, p = 0.026) and bladder with/without the ureter was more common in the recurrent group (57% vs. 25%, p = 0.048). By multivariate analysis, the hazard ratios of variables associated with recurrence were 4.689 for colon involvement (95% confidence interval: 1.245–17.659, p = 0.0220] and 5.468 for cystitis with/without ureteritis (95% confidence interval: 1.629–18.360, p = 0.006). Conclusion Colon and urinary tract involvement in LE patients may be associated with the recurrence of LE.