Follow Up Study on the Changes in the Clinical Features and Prognosis of Japanese Patients with Systemic Lupus Erythematosus During the Past 3 to 4 Decades

Abstract

Seven hundred and fifty four Japanese SLE patients were subdivided into the following 3 groups according to the year of diagnosis : Group A ; 85 cases between 1955 and 1969, Group B ; 322 cases between 1970 and 1979 and Group C ; 347 cases between 1980 and 1990. The clinical features and prognosis were compared among the 3 groups. The number of SLE patients with persistent and/or profuse proteinuria, psychosis, unconsciousness, thrombocytopenia and other disorders in Group C was less than that of Groups A and/or B. The number of cases treated with steroids, immunosuppressants, non-steroidal antiinflammatory drugs, antihypertensive drugs in Group C was less than that of Groups A and/or B. However, the number of cases treated with pulse therapy and plasmapheresis in Group C was more than that of Groups A and/or B. The mortality rate of SLE, especially due to uremia, significantly decreased from Group A to Group C. Five-year and 10-year survival rates in Group C were 95.2% and 93.4%, respectively, revealing a significantly more favorable prognosis than that of the other groups. J Epidemiol, 1993; 3:19-27.