Background:
@EN Systemic lupus erythematosus(SLE) is a clinical syndrome of unknown causes characterized by inflammation and multisystem involvement. Since Hargravas describe the LE cell in 1948, a profound change has occured in the concept of SLE. Many
studies of
the large series have been reported in the West, but few collective studies have been reported in Korea.
@ES Objective:
@EN The goal of this study was to elucidate the clinical and laboratory characteristics of SLE in Korean people.
@ES Methods:
@EN We carried out a retrospective study of 64 patients, who were diagnosed as SLE on the base of "The 1982 revised criteria for the SLE by American College of Rheumatology (formerly, American Rheumatism Association)", at Korea University
Hospital
from
1982 to 1991. The results were compared with those of previous studies in Korea and western countries.
@ES Results:
@EN 1. In 64 patients with SLE, female patients outnumbered male by 6.1 to 1 and the mean age of onset was 28.6 years.
2. The initial manifestations were : arthritis or arthralgia, 25% ; fatigue, malaise, weight loss, 21.8% ; facial rash or blush, 12.5% ; fever, 12.5%.
3. The major clinical manifestations were hematologic(90.6%), mucocutaneous(89%), musculoskeletal (79.7%), and renal (73.4%) involvemant.
4. The ANA test were positive in 83.9% of the patients, and homogenous pattern was most common. There was no significant difference of organ involvement according to the nuclear patterns of ANA, but cardiopulmoanry, renal involvement,
hypocomplementemia and positive anti-ds DNA were less frequent in ANA neghative group.
5. In 73.7% of the patients, the titers of anti-ds DNA antibody was elevated. The amount of anti-ds DNA Ab in serum did not always correlate with disease activity.
6. Photosensitivity, arthritis or arthralgia and CNS manifestations were less common, but hematologic findings, including anemia and leukopenia were more common in Korean than western reports.
@ES Conclusion:
@EN Patients with SLE are heterogenous in the natural history of their disease, which is not an uncommon disease in Korea. Continued efforts to clarify the immunopathologic basis for SLE should eventually lead to more effective treatment. (Kor J
Dermatol 1994 ; 32(2) : 258~270)
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