ABSTRACT
Ethnicity, gender and age of onset are reported to influence the expression and outcome of systemic lupus erythematosus. We studied a multi-ethnic cohort of 408 South Africans (91.2% females) comprising 237 (58.1%) Indians, 137 (33.6%) African Blacks, 17 (4.2%) Mixed ethnicity and 17 (4.2%) Whites. The most common manifestations were arthritis (80.6%), photosensitivity (67.2%), oral ulcers (50.0%), malar rash (49.0%) and renal (39.2%). The common laboratory findings were positive anti-nuclear factor (96.8%), haematological (74.8%) and anti-dsDNA antibodies (45.3%). Serositis ( p = 0.002), nephritis ( p = 0.039), leucopaenia ( p = 0.001), haemolytic anaemia ( p = 0.026), anti-dsDNA antibodies ( p = 0.028) and anti-Sm antibodies ( p = 0.050) were more common in African Blacks compared to Indians. Males had increased prevalence of discoid rash ( p = 0.006) and anti-Sm antibodies ( p = 0.016). Discoid rash ( p = 0.018), renal involvement ( p < 0.001), psychosis ( p = 0.028), seizures ( p = 0.020), anti-dsDNA antibodies ( p = 0.009), leucopaenia ( p = 0.006), haemolytic anaemia ( p = 0.017) and thrombocytopaenia ( p = 0.023) were more common with early-onset systemic lupus erythematosus. On multivariate analysis, the independent predictors of death were renal involvement, anti-dsDNA antibodies and seizures. There were 53 (13%) deaths and the five- and 10-year survival was 90.8% and 85.7% respectively, with no differences related to ethnicity or age of onset. In conclusion, we report on the spectrum and outcome of systemic lupus erythematosus in a large South African multi-ethnic cohort.
