Abstract
In an attempt to identify prognostic indicator of patients with systemic lupus erythematosus (SLE) complicated by infection, we compared laboratory findings between those with fatal outcome (the fatal group) and those whose infections had been successfully controlled (the recovery group). From among 121 SLE patients hospitalized at University of Tsukuba Hospital between 1976 and 1986, 26 episodes of bacterial, fungal or protozoal infections were recorded. Infections contracted while SLE was in remission and viral infections were excluded from the study. The fatal group patients acquired more infections classifiable as opportunistic infections including sepsis and pneumonia. They were associated with hypocomplementemia and leukopenia more frequently than the recovery group patients. Since hypocomplementemia and leukopenia are common findings in patients with both active SLE and severe infection, it is difficult to accurately evaluate the disease activity of SLE complicated by infection. But the comparison of serum complement values before and following the infection was considered to serve as a useful prognostic indicator.
