Impact and associations of lymphopenia in a cohort of Egyptian systemic lupus erythematosus patients: Potential link to complement (C3) and corticosteroids

摘要

Aim of the workTo investigate the relation between lymphopenia and clinical disease activity, disease associated end organ damage, laboratory markers and medications received in systemic lupus erythematosus (SLE) patients. Another objective was to investigate the prognostic value of lymphopenia.Patients and methodsThe medical records of 698 SLE patients under follow-up at the Rheumatology clinics of Cairo and KafrElsheikh University hospitals were revised. Demograghic and laboratory data, SLE disease activity index (SLEDAI), damage index and drug history were assessed.ResultsMean age of 28.4?±?8.8?years (12–60?years), they were 640 females and 58 males (F:M 11:1) and a disease duration of 6.2?±?4.7 (0.1–31?years). The study included 674 adults and 24 juvenile cases. 280 (40%) had lymphopenia. Patients with lymphopenia had significantly consumed complement 3 (C3) (p??40?mg/day, infections, antiphospholipids for associated lymphopenia. On multivariate analysis only consumed C3 (p?=?0.008) and pulse steroid therapy (p?=?0.036) remained as independent risk factors for lymphopenia.ConclusionLymphopenia may be more than a hematological finding in SLE patients that was found to be associated with complement consumption, high steroid doses and cyclophosphamide administration, infections and antiphospholipids. The key independent risk factors for lymphopenia are pulse steroid and C3.