Systemic lupus erythematosus in Aborigines and Caucasians in central Australia: a comparative study

The objective of this study was to determine whether there are differences in the prevalence, clinical and laboratory manifestations, and morbidity an d mortality of systemic lupus erythematosus ISLE) between Aborigines and Ca ucasians in Central Australia. The medical records of all patients diagnosed with SLE upto December 1999 w ere reviewed retrospectively. Prevalence of SLE was 1:1360 for Aborigines and 1:5170 for Caucasians. The prevalences of malar rash, discoid rash. photosensitivity, oral ulcers, ple uritis, anticardiolipin antibodies and lupus anticoagulant were higher in C aucasians than in Aborigines. The prevalences of anti-Sm antibody and anti- RNP antibody were higher in Aborigines than in Caucasians. These difference s did not attain statistical significance. There was a low prevalence of re nal disease in Aborigines and Caucasians. Mortality was low in Aborigines a nd nil in Caucasians. Although there is a high prevalence of SLE in Aborigines in Central Austral ia, renal involvement and mortality are low.