Infection-related morbidity in systemic lupus erythematosus: a clinico-epidemiological study from northern India

The present study was undertaken to retrospectively evaluate the frequency and pattern of infections in 309 patients with systemic lupus erythematosus (SLE) attending the Rheumatology Clinic of the All India Institute of Medical Sciences Hospital between January 1989 and May 1994. Eighty-two patients (26.5%) were found to be suffering from one or more infections during this period. Tuberculosis was the commonest infection observed. Seventy-four patient (23.9%) had a single infection, while 8 (2.6%) had multiple infections. The infection rate was found to be higher among patients with SLE and major organ involvement than among those with mild superficial SLE.