Hepatomegaly, splenomegaly and lymphadenopathy in Iraqi patients with systemic lupus erythematosus

Abstract EN

Background : Systemic lupus erythematosus (SLE) is an autoimmune disease which is known to present with a wide variety of clinical manifestations.

Liver and spleen enlargement in SLE are common finding but their prevalence and association with lymph node involvement not fully studied in Iraqi patients.

Aim of study : Assessment of hepatomegaly and splenomegaly and their relation with lymphadenopathy in Iraqi patients having systemic lupus erythematosus.

Method: A cross sectional analytical study was done on 50 systemic lupus erythematosus Iraqi patients with active disease according to SLE disease activity index.

The patients were attending rheumatology and rehabilitation unit in Al-Hussein teaching hospital.

Results : In our study we found that hepatomegaly was seen in 36% of patients, splenomegaly in 28% while lymphadenopathy in 26% .

We noticed that hepatomegaly and splenomegaly were higher in those having lymphadenopathy compared to those without lymph node involvement.

Also liver, spleen and lymph node involvement associated with more mucocutaneuos and constitutional manifestation, while no differences were noticed in renal and neuropsychiatric manifestation.