Clinical characteristics of septic arthritis in patients with systemic lupus erythematosus: an analysis of 12 cases / 中华风湿病学杂志

ABSTRACT

Objective To analyze the clinical characteristics of systemic lupus erythematosus (SLE) patients with septic arthritis.Methods Twelve SLE patients with septic arthritis admitted to Peking Union Medical College Hospital from January 1990 to December 2012 were retrospectively analyzed.Results The median duration from onset of SLE to septic arthritis was 8.5 months (ranged from 1 to 120 months).All patients had received higher doses of steroid therapy (equal to prednisolone 1 mg ·kg-1 ·d-1) and immunosuppressant,and 5 of them had received methylprednisolone pulse therapy.The infectious manifestations included joint pain (all cases),swelling (5 cases),reduced joint function (8 cases) and fever (10 cases).All patients were oligo-arthritis.The hip and knee joints were most commonly involved.Three patients were infected by Salmonella,4 patients were infected by S.aureus,and 3 patients were infected by tuber culosis.Conclusion When SLE patients with long term steroid and immunosuppressant therapy developedacute joint pain and swelling,septic arthritis should be considered.Synovial fluid Gram stain,culture,blood culture and arthroscopy should be performed promptly.Appropriate antibiotics should be administered,and early treatment can improve the outcomes.