Gender impact in systemic lupus erythematosus

Area of Science:

• Rheumatology
• Autoimmune Diseases
• Clinical Medicine

Background:

• Systemic Lupus Erythematosus (SLE) predominantly affects females, with reported gender-based differences in clinical presentation and mortality.
• Understanding these gender-specific differences is crucial for effective SLE management.

Purpose of the Study:

• To compare clinical manifestations and 5-year survival probability between male and female Mexican SLE patients.
• To identify gender-linked differences in clinical and immunological findings.
• To conduct a systematic literature review of male SLE cases.

Main Methods:

• Retrospective analysis of SLE patients meeting ACR criteria at Instituto Nacional de Cardiología, Mexico City.
• Assessment of clinical variables, cardiovascular findings, and disease activity (SLEDAI).
• Estimation of 5-year survival rates and systematic literature review.

Main Results:

• 33 men and 158 women with SLE were included; average age was 31 years.
• Men presented with discoid lupus, psychosis, pericarditis, lymphopenia, thrombocytopenia, and kidney disease.
• Gender-linked differences observed in auto-antibodies and hypocomplementemia; cardiovascular features and survival rates were similar between genders.

Conclusions:

• Male Mexican SLE patients exhibit clinical characteristics consistent with male SLE cases globally.
• Clinical manifestations and survival rates in this cohort did not show significant gender disparity.
• Further research may elucidate underlying mechanisms for gender differences in SLE.