Systemic lupus erythematosus (SLE) is a multifactorial autoimmune disease w
ith a highly variable presentation. The aim of this work was to investigate
its clinical pattern and determine the length of time taken for its diagno
sis in the Republic of Ireland over the past 30 years. Patients were identi
fied using four independent ascertainment methods. Data analysis was based
on the chi-squared test and calculation of means, medians and quartiles of
diagnosis times. The most common manifestations at diagnosis and throughout
disease progression were fatigue, musculoskeletal, cutaneous and photosens
itivity. Diagnosis within 3 months increased from 9.1% of patients whose sy
mptoms first appeared in the 1970s to 42.3% for the 1990s, while the mean d
iagnosis decreased from 102.8 to 11.5 months, and the median from 71 to 5 m
onths, over the same period. Thus SLE diagnosis rimes have declined signifi
cantly over the past 30 years in the Republic of Ireland, while disease pre
sentation reflects international experience. Med Sci Res 27:769-771 (C) 199
9 Lippincott Williams & Wilkins.