Systemic lupus erythematnsus remains a disease of unknown origin, characterized by
major alterations of both the cellular and the humoral arms of immunity. Of greater
importance, almost every patient with lupus erythematosus manifests some abnormality
of hematologic system.
We reviewed hematologic findings in 78 patients with systemic lupus erythetematosus.
Among 78 patients, initial blood picture was normal in 4 patients. The most common
hematologic abnormality seen in systemic lupus erythematosus was aneumia, occurred in
72 cases (92.3%). The leukopenia occurred in 24 cases (30.8%), the lymphopenia in 50
cases (64.1%) and the thrombocytopenia in 25 cases (32.1%). The pancytopenia was
seen in 13 cases (16.7%). In most cases, the hematologic alterations were associated
with other abnormalities other than alone.
Among 72 cases with anemia, 50 cases were classified according to the laboratory
findings and bone marrow studies. The anemia of chronic disorders was the most
common finding, occurred in 18 cases (36.0%). The hemolytic anemia occurred in 17
cases (34.0%), the iron deficiency anemia in 7 cases (14.0%) and the aplastic anemia in
4 cases (8.0%). A patients with systemic lupus erythematosus and hemolytic anemia
complicate by periodic episodes of red cell hypoplasia was included in this review. Two
cases was associated with uremia and 1 case, with myeloffibrosis.
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