RISK-FACTORS FOR INFECTION IN PATIENTS WITH SYSTEMIC LUPUS-ERYTHEMATOSUS

Infection often complicates systemic lupus erythematosus (SLE) and has become the most common cause of death in patients with SLE. It is, th erefore, important to identify risk factors for infection in the manag ement of SLE patients. Risk factor modification or prophylactic antibi otic use could decrease the incidence or severity of infection, improv ing the prognosis for SLE patients. The following risk factors for inf ection have been reported: an increase in disease activity of SLE, pre sence of nephrotic syndrome or renal failure attributed to lupus nephr itis, an increase in corticosteroid dose, use of cytotoxic drugs, espe cially cyclophosphamide, and a decrease in serum albumin value. A pred iction model for infection using these risk factors appears applicable in clinical practice, and two such models have been reported: one pre dicting infection from disease activity of SLE, and the other a logist ic model using serum albumin value, serum creatinine value and cortico steroid dose as independent variables.