Clinical and serological factors associated with lupus pericarditis: a case-control study

Lupus pericarditis, a common manifestation of systemic lupus erythematosus (SLE), can be fatal. We examined the prevalence of lupus pericarditis and its associated factors in a Taiwanese SLE cohort.

Patients with SLE treated at Change Gung Memorial Hospital between January 2005 and December 2012 were included, and their age, sex, SLE disease duration, SLE disease activity index (SLEDAI) score, laboratory test results, comorbidities, and treatment regimen were noted. Factors related to lupus pericarditis were examined using univariate and multivariate logistic regression analyses.

Of the 689 patients, 88.7% were women; age at diagnosis (± standard deviation (SD)) was 40.78 ± 15.59 years, and disease duration at study entry was 11.93 ± 8.21 years. The prevalence of lupus pericarditis was 16.4% (n = 113). Notably, older age at diagnosis (p = 0.0165), longer disease duration (p = 0.009), higher SLEDAI score (p < 0.0001), renal disorder (p = 0.003), lymphocytopenia (p < 0.0001), thrombocytopenia (p = 0.004), and anti-phospholipid antibody (aPL) seropositivity (p = 0.002) were significantly associated with lupus pericarditis. In multivariate analysis, adjusted for sex, SLE disease duration, age, and SLEDAI score, patients with lymphocytopenia and aPL seropositivity were related to a twofold (odds ratio (OR) 2.015, 95% confidence interval (CI) 1.091-3.858) and 1.5-fold (OR 1.569, 95% CI 1.017-2.421) greater prevalence of lupus pericarditis, respectively.

Lupus pericarditis occurred in approximately one fifth of patients in this cohort. Patients with SLE with lymphocytopenia or anti-phospholipid antibody seropositivity were associated with a higher rate of lupus pericarditis. Key Points • Lupus pericarditis is a common manifestation of SLE that occurred in one-fifth patients in this study. • Lymphocytopenia and aPL antibody seropositivity are associated with a higher likelihood of developing lupus pericarditis. • Patients with lupus pericarditis should be identify early and treated with caution to prevent further morbidity and mortality.