Gastrointestinal and hepatobiliary manifestations in systemic lupus erythematosus.

ABSTRACT

OBJECTIVE: To report GI and Hepatobiliary manifestations in SLE from Chulalongkorn Hospital in the year 2000. MATERIAL AND METHOD: A retrospective study of SLE patients in the Rheumatological Clinic, Medical Department, Chulalongkorn University. RESULTS: A total 225 SLE patients were found being mainly female (93.3%). The mean age was 32.13 +/- 11.65 years and they almost all lived in the central part of Thailand (79.1%). At diagnosis, the majority of SLE cases are active vital organ (72.1%), kidney and central nervous system are the main organ of involvement. GI and hepatobiliary manifestations were found in 32.89% but did not lead to SLE diagnosis. The duration between SLE diagnosis and first GI and hepatobiliary manifestations is 4.6 +/- 4.4 years. The 3 common manifestations are abnormal liver function test, diarrhea and abdominal pain, with the prevalance rate of 34, 17 and 11% respectively. CONCLUSION: GI and hepatobiliary manifestations of SLE patients in Chulalongkorn Hospital were found in 32.89% but were not specific and could be found in any part of the alimentary tract. The 3 common manifestations were abnormal liver function tests, diarrhea and abdominal pain which were not specific enough to diagnose SLE.