[Lupus erythematosus visceralis in old age]

In the world literature there are only a few reports about systemic lupus erythematosus in older and old patients (from 60 years upwards). In our group of 53 patients with definitive SLE we saw 4 patients (7.5 per cent) with first symptoms after the age of sixty. Specific organic symptoms do not differ from younger patients. But in the course of the disease we can often see pleuropulmonal ans rarely organic kidney symptoms. General symptoms (fatique, languidness, loss of appetite, temperature) are the same as in younger patients. In the 4 patients all laboratory and serological results were very active. Therapy can depress the activity; remissions are rare. In older and old patients SLE should be consideral in the differential diagnosis if the degree of activity is not so clear. In all suspicions we must investigate all important phenomena, especially LE-cells and antinuclear antibodies.