Clinical Manifestations of Systemic Lupus Erythematosus

Diagnosis of systemic lupus erythematosus (SLE) was confirmed by the presence of lupus erythematosus cells in 75.7% of the patients, findings of skin biopsies in 6.0% and of renal biopsies in 1.2%, and by the clinical picture alone in 17.1%. Negroes comprised 34% of the subjects. Spontaneous remissions occurred in 35% of the patients. Proven familial SLE occurred in 2%. Myalgia was present in 48.2%. No history of cutaneous involvement at any time was found in 28%. Classic skin lesions of chronic discoid lupus at the onset of their illness were present in 10.8%. Urinary abnormalities were noted in only 46.1%. Uremia caused 34% of the 135 deaths and progressive central nervous system involvement caused 18.4%. The prognosis has markedly improved. The mean duration is now 94.8 months for the entire series versus 38.5 months in an untreated control group.