Clinical and laboratory features of patients of Vietnamese descent with systemic lupus erythematosus

The prevalence rate and disease manifestations of systemic lupus erythemato sus (SLE) have been noted to vary among different ethnic groups. There has been no description in the English literature of SLE in the Vietnamese popu lation. This is the first report, which details the clinical and laboratory features as well as an estimation of the prevalence of SLE in patients wit h a Vietnamese ancestry living in the United States. We performed a retrospective chart review of clinical and laboratory featur es of patients of Vietnamese descent with SLE. The case finding was perform ed by a review of the rheumatology clinic records at two large teaching hos pitals in Santa Clara County searching for patients with SLE with a Vietnam ese surname. In addition, we recruited patients by contacting all of the rh eumatologists practicing in the county. Twenty-three patients of Vietnamese descent were identified with SLE in San ta Clara County. The estimated prevalence of SLE in the patients of Vietnam ese descent was 42 cases per 100 000 persons. Eighty-seven per cent of the cases were born in Vietnam. The clinical and laboratory features of SLE wer e similar to prior published reviews except for a relatively high prevalenc e of anti-RNP antibody (54%). The patients with anti-RNP antibody exhibited features of overlap syndrome. There was a high rate of exposure to tubercu losis (TB). Fifty-eight per cent of patients had a positive purified protei n derivative (PPD) skin test and 27% of patients had a history of clinical TB. Forty-four per cent of patients had evidence of hepatitis B exposure. The prevalence of SLE in the Vietnamese population in Santa Clara County is similar to that of other Asian populations. There was a relatively high pr evalence of anti RNP antibody in our patient group which was associated wit h overlap features. As expected in an immigrant population from Southeast A sia, there was a high rate of prior exposure to tuberculosis and hepatitis B. Clinicians should diligently screen for these infections and appropriate ly prophylaxe and treat patients.