Andrei, Capitanescu, Camelia, Pantoc, Catalin, Lungu Adrian, Elena, Marin Anca, Iulia, Constantinescu, Ileana, Negru, Alexandra, Niculae, Georgiana-Mihaela, B&acaron;lan, Elena, Baducu Diana, and Cristina, Stoica
Background and aimsSystemic Lupus Eryhthematosus (SLE) is a chronic autoimmune inflammatory disease that follows a relapsing and remitting course. It carries a highly variable prognosis, depending on clinical and laboratory findings. Therefore, we aimed to evaluate the clinical presentation and predictors for flare at 6 months of SLE patients admitted in our refferal centre.MethodsWe performed a unicentric longitudinal retrospective study on a group of 20 patients diagnosed with SLE between 1stFebruary 2011-1stFebruary 2017. The including criteria were diagnosis of SLE, clinical and laboratory data available over a period of at least 6 months of follow-up. TheSystemic Lupus Eryhthematosus Disease Activity Index 2000 (SLEDAI 2K) score, an increase or decrease of more than 3 points, was used to assess the presence of flare or the remission, respectively.ResultsMedian age at diagnosis was 14.54 yo [13.02;15.81], 20% were boys. Median follow-up was 24 months [13.5; 24.75]. Out of 56 admissions studied we encountered 17 flares. Neurological involvement was present in 16 cases. In logistical multivariable regression analysis the determinant for flare over a 6 months period were neurological symptoms, explaining up to 28% of flare variability.ConclusionsIn our study only the presence of neurological involvement, but not immunologic, laboratory findings or other clinical manifestation, was associated with the presence of flare in the next 6 months. However, the relatively short period of observation and the small number of patients studied hamper a more accurate evaluation of the prognostic markers.