Background and aims Systemic lupus erythrematosus (SLE) is an autoimmune disease with a myriad of manifestations, that could vary among different ethnic and racial groups.

Aim of the study: To study the prevalence of various manifestations of SLE in an Egyptian population.

Methods Information in this study was derived from the medical records of SLE patients, who followed up in 2 private clinics in Cairo from January 1980 to June 2016.

Results This study included 1109 SLE patients, of which 114 (10.3%) were males and 995 were females (89.7%). Age of onset showed a mean of 26±11.19 years, and the mean of disease duration was 48.78±58.46 months. The most common manifestations were synovitis (76.7%), malar rash (48.5%), leukopenia (45.7%), and photosensitivity (45.6%). At least one of the antiphospholipid antibodies was present in 41.8% of the patients, with thromboembolic manifestations and/or recurrent fetal loss present in 18.3% of the patients. Neuropsychiatric manifestations were evident in 7.8% of the patients, with seizures being the most common neuropsychiatric manifestation, present in 4%. 33.1% of the patients had nephritis, which succeeded the onset of the disease by a mean duration of 20±21.3 months. 29.3% of the patients continued follow up and received induction therapy according to the guidelines at the time of presentation (cyclophosphamide: 11.8%, mycophenolate mofetyl: 7.6%, and azathioprine: 9.8%). Of which, 24.9% continued follow up and achieved partial (9.9%) and complete (15%) remission.

Conclusions Synovitis and malar rash were the most common manifestations in our study. Secondary antiphospholipid was present in 18.3% of the patients.