Myositis in systemic lupus erythematosus

Area of Science:

• Rheumatology
• Immunology
• Internal Medicine

Background:

• Myositis is an uncommon manifestation of Systemic Lupus Erythematosus (SLE).
• Early identification of myositis in SLE patients is crucial for timely intervention.

Purpose of the Study:

• To determine the incidence of myositis in an SLE cohort.
• To identify demographic and clinical factors associated with myositis development in SLE.

Main Methods:

• Utilized SLICC Damage Index, SLEDAI-2K criteria, and serum creatinine kinase levels to identify potential myositis cases.
• Conducted chart reviews for case confirmation and performed cohort analyses adjusted for demographic variables.
• Analyzed prevalent and incident myositis cases within the SLE cohort.

Main Results:

• The incidence of myositis in the SLE cohort was 1.05 cases per 1000 person-years.
• Non-Caucasian patients demonstrated a significantly increased risk of developing myositis.
• Pre-existing arthritis, Raynaud's phenomenon, and anti-Smith antibodies were present in all incident myositis cases.

Conclusions:

• Myositis occurs infrequently in SLE patients.
• Non-Caucasian race/ethnicity, arthritis, Raynaud's phenomenon, and anti-Smith antibodies are associated with an increased risk of myositis in SLE.
• These factors can assist clinicians in identifying high-risk SLE patients for myositis.