[Related factors of systemic lupus erythematosus: clinical analysis of 203 cases].

OBJECTIVE

To investigate the related factors of systemic lupus erythematosus (SLE) and the situation of diagnosis and treatment after onset.

METHODS

203 SLE patients, 11 males and 192 females, with a male/female ratio of 1:17, average onset age of (32 +/- 14), and average course of 3 years, were followed up and the related factors such as risk factors, family history and the situation of diagnosis and treatment were studied.

RESULTS

63 patients (31%) had the history of overworking before falling ill; 47 patients (23.2%) had suffered from infection before SLE onset. Other risk factors, such as solarization, emotional fluctuation, menstrual disorder, abortion, dyeing, and chemical drug contacting accounted for 14.3%, 14.3%, 9.4%, 6.9% , 4.9%, and 1.5% respectively. 16 patients (7.9%) had positive family history. 120 patients got the correct diagnosis at the first visit. 83 patients had been misdiagnosed for less than 1 year to 14 years. 47 of the 83 patients (23.2%) failed to get the correct diagnosis for more than one year. 140 of the 203 patients (69.0%) were given glucocorticoid and/or immunosuppressant as the first choice treatment measures after the diagnosis was confirmed. 39 of the 203 patients (19.2%) chose traditional Chinese medicine or folk prescription as the first choice. And 24 of the 203 patients (11.8%) used anti-inflammatory, and antipyretic drugs. 128 patients (63.1%) failed to continue to work.

CONCLUSION

Overworking, infection, solarization, and emotional fluctuation may be related to the onset of SLE. A great part of SLE patients can not be diagnosed early and treated promptly. SLE brings bad influence on the life quality of patients.