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Updated: Jul 19, 2026
06:15
A Modified Trier Social Stress Test for Vulnerable Mexican American Adolescents
Published on: July 10, 2017
SLE in a United States-Mexico border community.
1Department of Medicine, University of Arizona, Tucson, Arizona 85723, USA.
Summary
A study in Nogales, Arizona, found a high prevalence of systemic lupus erythematosus (SLE) in Mexican-American women. Environmental factors near the US-Mexico border may contribute to this increased risk.
Area of Science:
- Environmental health
- Rheumatology
- Epidemiology
Background:
- Community reports suggested an excess prevalence of systemic lupus erythematosus (SLE) in Nogales, Arizona.
- A potential link between ethnicity and environmental factors in SLE occurrence was investigated.
Purpose of the Study:
- To verify community-reported SLE prevalence in Nogales, Arizona.
- To explore the association between ethnicity, environmental factors, and SLE.
Main Methods:
- Clinic-based study using 1982 American College of Rheumatology criteria.
- Identified 19 definite and 7 probable cases of SLE.
- Assessed residential proximity to the US-Mexico border, Nogales Wash, and contaminated ground wells.
Main Results:
- A prevalence rate of 94 per 100,000 was identified, primarily among self-identified Mexican-American females.
- Most cases lived near the US-Mexico border and polluted environmental sources.
- This rate is among the highest reported for SLE.
Conclusions:
- The study highlights a potentially elevated risk of SLE in Mexican-Americans.
- Environmental factors, particularly pollutants near the border, warrant further investigation.
- Clinicians should consider environmental exposures when assessing SLE risk in Latin-American populations.
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