Disease patterns of patients with systemic lupus erythematosus as shown by application of factor analysis

Clinical and laboratory test data of 77 patients with systemic lupus erythematosus (SLE) were evaluated by factor analysis. Six factors representing disease patterns were extracted: cutaneous symptoms of alopecia, malar rash, rash and photosensitivity; renal involvement; the anticoagulant syndrome of phlebitis and partial thromboplastic time inversely related to platelet count; lymphopenia; viral or fibromyalgia symptoms of headache, nervousness, joint and muscle pain; and serology of anti-DNA antibodies and complement inversely related. Application of factor analysis reveals various clinical presentations of SLE.