SEASONAL-VARIATIONS IN MANIFESTATIONS AND ACTIVITY OF SYSTEMIC LUPUS-ERYTHEMATOSUS

The purpose of the present study was to investigate a possible seasona l pattern in various clinical and laboratory manifestations in a group of systemic lupus erythamatosus (SLE) patients. One hundred and five SLE patients were followed up during a 4 yr period. Data on each of th e clinical and laboratory variables examined, as well as the results o f the disease activity index (SLEDAI), were plotted against the month during which they were obtained. Photosensitivity was the only variabl e to show a seasonal pattern, having higher scores during the summer m onths (1.04 +/- 0.16 in July vs 0.58 +/- 0.12 in December). We were un able to show seasonal patterns in any of the other variables examined. As a group, SLE patients do not show any significant seasonal pattern in disease manifestations and activity: except for photosensitivity. However, such a pattern may exist for the individual patient.