SLE MORTALITY IN AN ORIENTAL POPULATION

We analysed the causes of 67 deaths, over a 4 y period, in our orienta l population with systemic lupus erythematosus (SLE). The median disea se duration was 48 +/- 60.5 months (range 1-250 months). The mean age at diagnosis and death were 30 and 35.1 y respectively. SLE alone acco unted for death in 30 patients (44.8%), infection in 27 (40.3%), pulmo nary embolism in 5 (7.5%), malignancy in 4 (5.9%) and rheumatic heart disease in 1 (1.5%). The major organ involvement in those with active disease at death were SLE related thrombocytopenia (n = 23/44, 52.3%), nephritis (n = 21/44), 47.7%), cerebral lupus (n = 16/44, 36.4%), and pulmonary haemorrhage (n = 12/44, 27.3%). As in other series, SLE and infection were the principal causes of death in our population. Durin g this 4 y period, there was no late death due to atherosclerosis.