Clinical Characteristics and Laboratory Findings of Hospital Admitted Iranian Systemic Lupus Erythematosus Patients: An Observational Study of a Decade Experience Publisher



Jazi K ; Khalaji A ; Behnoush AH ; Ghomi SYF ; Habibi MA ; Eazi SM ; Hajrezaei Z ; Sarbazhoseini S ; Azizkhani M ; Masoumi M
Source: SN Comprehensive Clinical Medicine Published:2025

Abstract

Background/Objective: This study aimed to investigate the manifestations, laboratory findings, and disease activity of systemic lupus erythematous (SLE) in a cohort of Iranian patients. Methods: In this retrospective cross-sectional study, the manifestations and laboratory investigations were recorded for SLE patients in Shahid Beheshti University Hospital, Qom, Iran. The SLE disease activity index (SLEDAI) was calculated and graded. Results: Of 244 patients, 136 (55.7%) were Hospitalized. The mean age was 38.8 ± 12.5 years with a female-to-male ratio of about 8:1 and a mean disease duration of 6.25 ± 6.34 years. In hospitalized patients (136), lupus nephritis was present in 16.9%, central nervous system (CNS) manifestations in 15.4%, hematological involvement in 12.5%, cardiac manifestations in 11.03%, gastrointestinal in 10.3%, vascular in 10.3%, and pulmonary in 8.8%. Anemia, as the most prevalent hematologic change, was present in 48.9% of patients. Increased blood urine nitrogen (BUN)/creatinine (CR) ratio was significantly higher in patients hospitalized (20%), compared with outpatients (8.8%). In all patients, antinuclear antibodies (ANA) were positive, while anti-double stranded DNA was positive in 37.8%, complement-3 consumed in 28.1%, positive anti-Ro in 13.5%, rheumatoid factor positive in 10.8%, anti-cyclic citrullinated peptide in 9.6%, and antiphospholipid syndrome in 17.6%. The mean SLEDAI was 9.5 ± 6.4; 4% were in remission, 23% mild, 37% moderate, 27% high, and 9% very high grade. Conclusions: Renal and CNS involvements are the most common in SLE patients. Presenting the clinical pattern can help clinicians early diagnose and track the disease course. Identifying clinical and serological patterns in SLE may lead to early diagnosis, risk assessment, and targeted management. Future multicenter studies with control groups are warranted to refine these associations and validate prognostic markers. © 2025 Elsevier B.V., All rights reserved.