Haematological abnormalities in South Africans with systemic lupus erythematosus
Date
2021
Authors
Anafi, Ivy Yaa Gyamaa
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Abstract
Background: Little is known about haematological abnormalities in South Africans with systemic lupus erythematosus. Method: A retrospective-nested case-control study of 240 SLE patients, comparing baseline haematology and clinical features in 200 known alive (AG) and 40 known deceased (DG) patients. Results: Most patients were black (93.3%) and female (96.3%). Anaemia (70.8%) and lymphopaenia (58.8%) were the commonest haematological abnormalities. Compared to AG, DG had lower median haemoglobin (Hb) (9.5g/dl vs 10.8g/dl, p<0.01) and higher median red cell distribution width (RDW) (16.6fL vs 15.4fL, p= 0.01). Renal involvement was independently associated with anaemia and raised RDW >16fl (OR=2.52 and 1.85, respectively). Central nervous system involvement was associated with leucopaenia and neutropaenia (OR=2.61 and 3.26, respectively). Raised basophil count and RDW independently predicted death. Conclusion: Haematological abnormalities at diagnosis were common in this predominantly black African cohort of SLE patients, often associated with major organ involvement. Increased basophil count and RDW at diagnosis predicted mortality
Description
A research report submitted to the Faculty of Health Sciences, University of the Witwatersrand, in partial fulfilment of the requirements of the degree of Master of Medicine (Internal Medicine), 2021