Systemic lupus erythematosus in Lebanon

The present study describes the clinical characteristics of patients with s ystemic lupus erythematosus (SLE) from the American University of Beirut Me dical Center (AUBMC), one of the largest teaching hospitals in Lebanon. Thi s is a retrospective chart review of 100 SLE patients seen over a 20 y peri od. There were 86 females and 14 males, with a median age of 26 y. 85 patie nts were Lebanese and 15 patients were Palestinians. The main clinical feat ures were arthritis and/or arthralgias seen in 95% of our patients, followe d by malar rash (52%), and renal involvement (50%). Of the hematological ma nifestations, thrombocytopenia was most commonly seen in 33% of patients, f ollowed by leucopenia in 17% and hemolytic anemia in 10% Oral ulcers and se rositis were both seen in 40% of patients. Less frequent manifestations inc luded discoid lupus (19%), neuropsychiatric manifestations (19%), and photo sensitivity (16%). Antinuclear antibodies were detected in 87% of patients, whereas anti-DNA antibodies were seen in 50% of cases. 25 patients (25%) h ad a false-positive VDRL. A comparison between our findings and 3 other Ara b SLE groups revealed a higher incidence of oral ulcers, discoid lupus, art icular manifestations, thrombocytopenia and false-positive VDRL, and a lowe r incidence of photosensitivity, leucopenia, neuropsychiatric manifestation s, and anti-DNA antibodies.