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CS-17 Clinical and immunological profile of patients with systemic lupus erythematosus, attending the rheumatology clinics at the south-west regional health authority, trinidad
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  1. Liane Conyette1,2,
  2. Haramnauth Dyaanand1,2 and
  3. Stefan Beharry1
  1. 1Rheumatology Unit, Department of Adult Medicine, San Fernando Teaching Hospital
  2. 2Associate Clinical Instructor II, Department of Clinical Medical Sciences, Faculty of Medical Sciences, UWI, St Augustine

Abstract

Background Many patients suffering from Systemic Lupus Erythematosus (SLE) attend one of four rheumatology clinics at the South-West Regional Health Authority of Trinidad. This study aimed at establishing a profile of these patients. A preliminary analysis of the demographic data of these patients, was presented at the lupus 2016 meeting. This abstract highlights the clinical and immunologic profile of the study population.

Methods This study was a cross-sectional design. During the study period in 2016, patients who were being treated for SLE in the public rheumatology clinics of the South-West Regional Health Authority, who fulfilled the Systemic Lupus International Collaborating Clinics Classification Criteria (SLICC) 2012, were identified. Mixed methods (interview-administered and medical records data extraction) were used. Descriptive statistics (frequencies, means and standard deviations) were calculated using SPSS version 12.

Results A total of 141 patients (table 1), who fulfilled the SLICC 2012 Classification Criteria for SLE were enrolled in the study. The mean age of the population was 39.8 with a standard deviation of 13.8. 136 patients (96.5%) were female. Analysis of the immunologic abnormalities revealed a positive ANA test in 139 (99.3%), and a positive anti-dsDNA test in 80 (57.6%) of the patients, for whom results were available. Synovitis involving two or more joints was reported by 120 (85.1%) of the patients, followed by acute cutaneous lupus 57 (40.4%) and non-scarring alopecia 55 (39.0%). Of the 32 patients with renal involvement, 28 patients had a result for an anti-dsDNA. test, of which 22 (78.6%) were positive.

Abstract CS-17 Table 1

Clinical and immunologic criteria of SLE patients attending rheumatology clinics in south west regional health authority, 2016

Conclusion The female to male ratio was comparable to other Asian populations. Our study population had similar clinical and immunologic findings as compared to published literature. A significant proportion of patients who had renal involvement had a positive Anti-dsDNA test. Future longitudinal studies would allow causal inferences to be made.

Acknowledgement The Authors will like to thank all doctors and clerical staff who worked in the Rheumatology Unit during the study period, for their assistance with data collection. Special thanks to Mr Darien Wong and Mr Jared Ramkissoon who assisted with the database. Thanks to Dr Peter Poon King and all consultants at the SWRHA.

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