Immunological and Clinical Characteristics of Systemic Lupus Erythematosus: A Series from Morocco

Abstract EN

Systemic Lupus Erythematosus (SLE) is a complex autoimmune disease with a high female predominance.

To date, studies about SLE in Morocco are few.

This retrospective study describes the clinical and immunological features in a series of 50 SLE Moroccan patients in University Hospital Center of Rabat, Morocco, between December 2011 and December 2013.

All patients were screened for antinuclear antibodies (ANA) and anti-DNA antibodies by indirect immunofluorescence, followed by identification of anti-extractable nuclear antigen antibodies by ELISA.

The female to male ratio was 6.1:1.

Mean age was 31.72 years.

The main clinical manifestations were arthritis (82%), mucocutaneous manifestations (80%), renal manifestations (50%), and hematological features (46%).

Of the mucocutaneous features, the highest frequencies were observed in the malar rash (68%) and photosensitivity (60%).

Of the hematological features, lymphopenia was most frequently observed in 30% of patients, followed by hemolytic anemia in 16% and leucopenia and thrombocytopenia in 8%.

Central nervous system was involved in 10%.

ANA were found in 88%, anti-DNA antibodies in 56%, and anti-Sm antibodies in 50%.

Anti-SSA, anti-SSB, anti-Sm/RNP, and anti-Scl70 antibodies were detected in 38%, 10%, 48%, and 8%, respectively.

Our data show that, in our patients, the main clinical and immunological features of SLE remain comparable to patients from other Arab countries.