Changing pattern of clinical features and prognosis in systemic lupus erythematosus

The changing pattern of clinical features of and prognosis for 206 patients with SLE were studied. SLE patients with Raynaud's phenomenon and minimal change and focal proliferative glomerulonephritis observed by means of renal biopsy tended to increase in C (1972--76) group compared with A (1955--68) and B (1969--71) groups. SLE patients with lupus nephritis and central nervous system lupus treated with large doses of steroids or combined therapy of steroids and immunosuppressive agents also increased in the order C, B, and A group. The prognosis for group C patients was better than that for A and B group patients. However, there appeared to be an increasing incidence of complications unrelated to SLE, namely infection and perforated peptic ulcer.