PT  - JOURNAL ARTICLE
AU  - Samanta, A
AU  - Feehally, J
AU  - Roy, S
AU  - Nichol, F E
AU  - Sheldon, P J
AU  - Walls, J
TI  - High prevalence of systemic disease and mortality in Asian subjects with systemic lupus erythematosus.
AID  - 10.1136/ard.50.7.490
DP  - 1991 Jul 01
TA  - Annals of the Rheumatic Diseases
PG  - 490--492
VI  - 50
IP  - 7
4099  - http://ard.bmj.com/content/50/7/490.short
4100  - http://ard.bmj.com/content/50/7/490.full
SO  - Ann Rheum Dis1991 Jul 01; 50
AB  - All patients with systemic lupus erythematosus (SLE) (American Rheumatism Association criteria with positive antinuclear antibody titre) and who attended any of the three general hospitals in Leicester over a 10 year period were ascertained using several complementary sources. Eighty seven subjects (26 Asian, 61 white) were identified. The estimated prevalence of SLE in Leicester is 0.4/1000 for Asian and 0.2/1000 for white subjects. Mean age of onset of the disease was 24 years in Asian and 31 years in white subjects, with both groups showing a female preponderance. Proteinuria (greater than 1 g/24 h) was noted in 15 (58%) Asian and 21 (35%) white subjects; neuropsychiatric disease in 10 (38%) Asian and 8 (13%) white subjects; myalgic symptoms with raised muscle enzymes in 9 (35%) Asian and 3 (5%) white subjects. Nineteen (73%) Asian subjects were positive for extractable nuclear antigens as well, at some stage of their disease, compared with 6 (10%) white subjects. Immunosuppressive treatment was required in 12 (46%) Asian and 12 (20%) white subjects, and deaths of seven Asian and five white subjects were attributed to SLE. These findings show that Asian subjects have a higher prevalence of SLE with greater systemic disease and mortality.