Mild presentation of systemic lupus erythematosus in elderly patients assessed by SLEDAI

Objective: Systemic lupus erythematosus (SLE) predominantly affects young p atients. SLE starting in later life has a clinical presentation different t han in younger patients. We have used the SLE Disease Activity Index (SLEDA I) to explore the relationship between age of onset and disease activity. Methods: We selected all patients controlled in our hospital at the moment of clinical diagnosis of SLE (100 patients; 85 females and 15 males). They were classified in two groups: those with early onset (<50 y) and those wit h late onset (>50 y) based on their age at the moment of clinical diagnosis of SLE. Results: In 12 patients the onset of SLE was >50 y (10 females and two male s; mean age 59 y). The early onset patients had significantly higher SLEDAI values at the presentation and during the first year of disease with respe ct to elderly patients. Antibodies to DNA and hypocomplementemia were detec ted more often in younger patients. Conclusion: Our results confirm using SLEDAI, that the lupus of the elderly patients is a distinct clinical subgroup with a milder course of disease.