SLICC ACR DAMAGE INDEX IS VALID, AND RENAL AND PULMONARY ORGAN SCORESARE PREDICTORS OF SEVERE OUTCOME IN PATIENTS WITH SYSTEMIC LUPUS-ERYTHEMATOSUS/

We investigated the Systemic Lupus International Collaborative Clinics /American College of Rheumatology (SLICC/ACR) Damage Index as a predic tor of severe outcome and an indicator of morbidity in different ethni c groups, and in regard to its validity. We retrospectively studied di sease course within 10 yr of diagnosis in an inception cohort of 80 pa tients with systemic lupus erythematosus (SLE). The mean renal damage score (DS) at 1 yr after diagnosis was a significant predictor of ends tage renal failure and the mean pulmonary DS at 1 yr significantly pre dicted death within 10 yr of diagnosis. Compared to Caucasians, Afro-C aribbeans and Asians had significantly higher mean total DS at 5 and 1 0 yr, and higher mean renal DS at 10 yr. At 5 yr, the mean renal DS in Afro-Caribbeans and the mean neuropsychiatric DS in Asians were signi ficantly higher than in Caucasians. The rate of endstage renal failure in Caucasians was significantly lower than in the other ethnic groups . Our results confirm the validity of the SLICC/ACR Damage Index.