THE PREVALENCE OF SYSTEMIC LUPUS-ERYTHEMATOSUS IN NORTHERN-IRELAND

Using six sources of patient ascertainment, 467 patients were initiall y identified as having a diagnosis of systemic lupus erythematosus (SL E) in Northern Ireland. The diagnosis was subsequently altered in 45 o f these, either by the patient, their family, or their physician. The corrected source data were then reanalysed by the 'capture-recapture' technique, which suggested a further 71 patients missed during the ini tial identification process. Eighty-eight patients underwent physical examination, and 14 were found to have a diagnosis other than SLE. A f inal estimated figure of 415 patients was obtained, giving a point pre valence on August 1, 1993 of 25.4 per 100 000 for the Province (95% co nfidence interval 22.1-28.7 per 100 000).