Risk factors for infection in Malaysian patients with systemic lupus erythematosus

To determine the incidence, types and risk factors for infection in systemic lupus erythematosus (SLE) patients in Kuala Lumpur, Malaysia, we retrospectively reviewed the medical records of 102 patients with definite SLE attending a specialist clinic. Details of major infections (pneumonia or severe...

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Bibliographic Details
Published in:QJM : An International Journal of Medicine 1996-07, Vol.89 (7), p.531-538
Main Authors: Paton, N.I.J., Cheong, I.K.S., Kong, N.C.T., Segasothy, M.
Format: Article
Language:English
Subjects:
Adolescent
Adult
Anti-Inflammatory Agents - therapeutic use
Bacterial Infections - complications
Bacterial Infections - epidemiology
Biological and medical sciences
Child
Female
Humans
Incidence
Lupus Erythematosus, Systemic - complications
Lupus Erythematosus, Systemic - therapy
Malaysia - epidemiology
Male
Medical sciences
Methylprednisolone - therapeutic use
Middle Aged
Retrospective Studies
Risk Factors
Sarcoidosis. Granulomatous diseases of unproved etiology. Connective tissue diseases. Elastic tissue diseases. Vasculitis
Time Factors
Tropical medicine
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Summary:To determine the incidence, types and risk factors for infection in systemic lupus erythematosus (SLE) patients in Kuala Lumpur, Malaysia, we retrospectively reviewed the medical records of 102 patients with definite SLE attending a specialist clinic. Details of major infections (pneumonia or severe infection requiring intravenous therapy) and minor infections, and their time of onset in relation to immunosuppressive therapy and disease flares were recorded. There were 77 major and 163 minor infections during 564 patient-years of follow-up. In the month following a course of pulse methylprednisolone, the incidence of major infection was 20 times higher and the incidence of minor infection was 10 times higher than at other periods (p < 0.0001). In the month after disease flare, the incidence of major infection was 10 times higher and the incidence of minor infection six times higher than at other times (p < 0.0001). After allowing for methylprednisolone therapy and disease flares, there was no increase in the rate of infections during treatment with azathioprine, oral or intravenous cyclophosphamide. There was no effect of renal involvement on infection rate.
ISSN:1460-2725
1460-2393
DOI:10.1093/qjmed/89.7.531