Exploration On Risk Factors Of Infection On Systemic Lupus Erythematosus Patients

OBJECTIVE: To investigate the incidence of infection and analyze the risk factor of infection in patients with systemic lupus erythematosus (SLE) at a single medical centre.METHODS: 100 patients with SLE were enrolled. General character and laboratory data, organism species and infected sites, gluco-corticosteroid(GC) and Cyclophosphamide(CTX) doses and SLE disease activity index(SLEDAI) and SLE damage index(SLICC/ACRDI) were assessed retrospectively. Independent t-test, Cox's proportional hazard regression model were used to explore the risk factor of infection in SLE patients.RESULTS: There were 32 patients suffered from infection in total 100 SLE cases in a period of average 14+16 months. 26 infections happened in the first year of therapy. Respiratory tract was the most common focus and common bacterial is the most popular organism of infection in this group. The independent t-test reveals that the total dosage of GC and CTX are statistically correlated with infection of SLE patients (P<0.05). SLICC/ACRDI and the total dosage of GC are enrolled in the Cox's proportional hazard regression model and odds ratios are respectively 1.8 and 1.1.CONCLUSIONS: Patients with SLE are prone to various infection, infection mainly happened in the first year of therapy. The total dosage of GC and CTX are correlation factors affecting the infection complication in SLE patients. SLICC/ACRDI and the total dosage of GC are risk factors increasing the incidence of infection in SLE patients.