Answers are grounded in this paper and cite their sources.
Cohort study reveals high rates of severe renal involvement and early disease onset in male lupus patients, highlighting substantial multiorgan morbidity.
Background/Aims Systemic lupus erythematous (SLE) is a chronic autoimmune (AI) disease of unknown etiology. It predominantly presents in women and only 1 in 10 of sufferers are men. We sought to examine the clinical pattern in male lupus patients in a tertiary multi-ethnic lupus centre in East London, UK. Methods Male lupus patients were identified through review of a pre-existing lupus patients database and clinic lists at Barts Trust. All patients’ electronic notes were reviewed prior to a telephone interview. All the participants fulfilled the ACR 1997 criteria for SLE. Descriptive data analysis was performed for all identified patients. Results Fifty-one patients were identified. Sample demographics showed that male lupus was more prevalent among Afro-Caribbeans (37%,n=19), followed by Asians (33%,n=17) and Caucasians (29%,n=15). The median age was 40.5 (IQR:32.5-52.7) years, with median age at SLE diagnosis 28 years (IQR:23-45).Family history of an AI condition was seen in 25%, whilst 14% had a family history specifically of SLE. Possible significant stressor prior to diagnosis reported in 45% (n = 23) patients. Serological evidence of previous infection with EBV, VZV or parvovirus was found in 76%. Although all patients were below the state pension age of 66, more than half were unemployed. The majority of males had multiorgan involvement including renal (67%,n=34), cutaneous (55%,n=28), hematological (45%,n=23), musculoskeletal (31%,n=16), cardiac (27%,n=14), pulmonary (20%,n=10), and neurologic (14%,n=7). Renal biopsy was done in 33/34 renal cases and the showed proliferative class-III/IV in 65%. Hypertension was a significant comorbidity in 39%, 47% had a concomitant AI condition. Juvenile-onset SLE was diagnosed in 6% of the patients with median age at disease onset 10 years (IQR:14-16,100% Caucasians). These males all had kidney nephropathy class-IV/V. Regarding serology, 94% were positive for antinuclear antibody, 40% speckled, 31% homogenous, and 8% for nucleolar and mixed pattern. Two patients ANA test was not recorded but they had confirmed renal/cutaneous biopsy findings.Three-quarters were positive for anti-double stranded DNA. Ro and La antigens were detected in 35% and 8%, while anti-Sm and anti-RNP antibodies were detected in 37% and 43%, respectively. Antiphospholipid antibodies were identified in less than a third, of which 40% presented with thrombotic events. Triple antiphospholipid antibodies was detected in 53%, 20% had LA, 15% had aCL, and 7% had either anti-B2GP1 or aCL/anti-B2GP. Conclusion Our dataset demonstrates a higher prevalence in Afro-Caribbean and Asians and a young age of onset (median 28 years) with presentation about 10 years earlier than most other reports. The majority were unemployed and reported significant life-stressors. Over three-quarters of patients had evidence of prior infection.Most of the lupus males had multiorgan involvement and over two-thirds had renal involvement, proliferative class-III/IV. There was a high prevalence of dsDNA, ENA (anti-Ro) and APL.
No takes yet. Share an insight, caveat, or question.
Aldeyarbi et al. (2024) studied this question.
Synapse has enriched 5 closely related papers on similar clinical questions. Consider them for comparative context: