J Rheum Dis.  2017 Aug;24(4):203-210. 10.4078/jrd.2017.24.4.203.

Prevalence and Risk Factors Associated with Neutropenia in Hospitalized Patients with Systemic Lupus Erythematosus

• Chung MK
• Kim IJ
• Lee J

• KMID: 2389061
• DOI: http://doi.org/10.4078/jrd.2017.24.4.203

Abstract

OBJECTIVE
This study estimated the prevalence and explored possible risk factors associated with neutropenia in hospitalized patients with systemic lupus erythematosus (SLE).
METHODS
This review included 160 admissions of 85 SLE patients between 2006 and 2013. Neutropenia was defined as absolute neutrophil count (ANC) below 1,500/mm³. The baseline characteristics of the patients were compared between patients who experienced neutropenia and those who did not. Clinical and serological factors related to neutropenia episodes during admission were analyzed.
RESULTS
Thirty-five (21.9%) neutropenic episodes were found among the 160 admissions. Most of the neutropenic episodes were mild to moderate. Severe neutropenia of ANC <500/mm³ occurred in 3.1% of the cases. Patients with neutropenia had higher frequencies of ANA (100.0% vs. 86.8%, p=0.042) and anti-double stranded DNA (87.5% vs. 60.4%, p=0.008), and satisfied more SLE classification criteria at the time of diagnosis than those without (5.1 vs. 4.6, p=0.009). Anemia, leukopenia, thrombocytopenia and low complement levels were frequently accompanied with neutropenia. Chronic kidney disease (odds ratio, 11.17; 95% confidence interval, 1.46∼85.27; p=0.020) was associated with neutropenia.
CONCLUSION
This study demonstrates that neutropenia is frequent in hospitalized patients with SLE, and patients with neutropenia have more hematologic and immunologic abnormalities. Renal damage was more frequent among those presenting with neutropenia.

Keyword

Systemic lupus erythematosus; Neutropenia; Risk factors

MeSH Terms

Anemia
Classification
Complement System Proteins
Diagnosis
DNA
Humans
Leukopenia
Lupus Erythematosus, Systemic*
Neutropenia*
Neutrophils
Prevalence*
Renal Insufficiency, Chronic
Risk Factors*
Thrombocytopenia
Complement System Proteins
DNA

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