Evaluation of risk factors for developing serious infection in patients with systemic lupus erythematosus under immunosuppressive therapy for lupus nephritis

Abstract

Systemic lupus erythematosus (SLE) is a chronic autoimmune disease characterized by presenting various clinical, laboratory and immunological manifestations, etiology remains unknown. It is estimated that at least 50% of SLE patients will suffer an episode of severe infection in the course of their disease and infections carry significant morbidity and mortality in patients of SLE patients. The use of immunosuppressive drugs is usual in severe forms of the disease. Some of the patients on immunosuppressive regimen are affected by severe and recurrent infections, while others seem to tolerate better this kind of treatment. The objective of this study is to determine risk factors for developing serious infection or recurrence in patients with SLE and immunosuppressive therapy. For this, we will select patients of the clinic of Autoimmune Rheumatic Diseases from Hospital São Paulo with SLE and evidence of lupus nephritis, undergoing immunosuppressive therapy and make an analysis in clinical and demographic data from medical records and apply a questionnaire with many questions about lifestyle habits and socioeconomic conditions. We will compare the group of patients with serious infections or repeated infections with respect to several parameters studied.