Evaluation of thrombocytopenia in systemic lupus erythematosus and correlation with different organs damages

Thrombocytopenia is highly prevalent among patients with Systemic Lupus Erythematous(SLE) and at the same time it has been reported that a correlation exists between Thrombocytopenia and organ damage. The aim of this study is to highlight the correlation between Thrombocytopenia and the clinical manifestations of SLE.

The objective is to show the clinical manifestations and organ damage of Systemic Lupus Erythematous (SLE) patients who have been found to have Thrombocytopenia.

A retrospective study was conducted examining all patient charts diagnosed and treated for SLE at the Rheumatology Service of Mother Teresa Hospital Centre. All the data were collected from discharged patient charts. The data included were Anti DNA,AAN,C3 , thrombocytopenia, leucopenia, and organ damage. Data were taken from 2009 to 2013. The classification criteria of the American College of Rheumatology was used for all patients regarding the diagnosis.

Out of 330 patients, 12 (3.64%) are men and 318 (96.3%) women. 73 of all patients have thrombocytopenia as cases and 257 patients had SLE without thrombocytopenia, which was considered as the control group. AAN 68(93.1%), Anti DNA 50 (64.3%) , low value of C3 46 (63%), and leucopenia were higher in thrombocytopenic patients compared with control group (p<0.05) 48 (65.7%) of thrombocytopenic patients develop lupus nephritis, 10 (13.6%) were with pulmonary involvement, and 42 (57.5%) had leukopenia.

Thrombocytopenia is not directly associated with any disease activity, organ damage and mortality, but it should be considered as a prognostic factor which may help identifying a category of patients whose disease course can be aggravated.