LUPUS: Trends of the disease in Northwest Punjab

Objectives: The aim of this study was to study the clinical profile of systemic lupus erythematosus (SLE) patients from a tertiary care center in Northwest Punjab. Materials and Methods: It was an observational cross-sectional study conducted at the Rheumatology Clinic, Adesh Hospital, Bathinda. Twenty-five patients classified to be suffering from SLE as per standard classification criteria (Systemic Lupus International Collaborating Clinics [SLICC]) were enrolled after obtaining consent for the same. Socio-demographic data, disease duration, disease activity, and treatment received were recorded. Analysis was performed for the various parameters. Results: The majority of patients (88%) were females with a female to male ratio of 7.3:1 with mean age of 30.5 years. Mucocutaneous involvement (92%) followed by musculoskeletal (84%). Nephritis was seen in 36%, deforming arthritis in 8%, and pleural involvement in 36% while ILD in 12%. Pericarditis was seen in 16%, and myocarditis was seen in 12%. Neurological involvement was seen in 36% patients with two cases of thrombotic CVA, one case of SAH and three cases of seizure disorder. Psychiatric symptoms were observed in 16% cases. AIHA was seen in 12%, leukopenia in 44%, and thrombocytopenia in 68%. Most common antibody was anti-dsDNA being present in 48% cases, followed by Anti Ro-60, Ro-52, Anti Sm, and Anti U1RNP antibody. Conclusion: We found a striking difference in the prevalence of pleuropulmonary features, neuropsychiatric features, Leukopenia, and thrombocytopenia in our subgroup of population as compared to the earlier studies from central and southern parts of India thus further emphasizing the fact that ethnic backgrounds predispose a patient for different phenotype.