Vol.23 No.3

Original Article

Adjusted neutropenia is associated with early serious infection in systemic lupus erythematosus

Authors

Sang-Won Lee1, 2 , Min-Chan Park1, 2 , Soo-Kon Lee1, 2 , Yong-Beom Park1, 2

  • Division of Rheumatology, Department of Internal Medicine, Institute for Immunology and Immunological Diseases, Yonsei University College of Medicine, 50 Yonsei-ro, Seodaemun-gu, Seoul, 120-752, South Korea
  • Department of Medical Sciences, Yonsei University College of Medicine, Seoul, South Korea
Received:

1 February 2012

Accepted:

8 May 2012

Published online:

8 June 2012

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Abstract

Objectives The susceptibility to infection increases in systemic lupus erythematosus (SLE) patients with neutropenia, but the link between infection risk and the cutoff neutrophil count still remains controversial. In this study, we investigated a valuable parameter associated with early serious infection in SLE patients during the first follow-up year.
Methods We reviewed the medical records of 160 patients with SLE. The initial levels were defined as the mean of the results of the first two consecutive tests. The adjusted levels were defined as the results of the accumulated area under the curve divided by interval follow-up days. Patients were divided into two groups according to early serious infection and initial and adjusted neutropenia and were then compared.
Results Immunosuppressive-na?¨ve SLE patients with early serious infection more frequently had initial, latest, and adjusted leukopenia and neutropenia (,500/mm3) and hypocomplementemia than those without. Adjusted neutropenia was the only independent predictive value for early serious infection [odds ratio (OR 11.366)]. Initial neutropenia was the independent predictive value for adjusted neutropenia (OR 6.504).
Conclusions We suggest that adjusted neutropenia is useful for predicting early serious infection in SLE patients during the first follow-up year.

Key words

Infection, Neutropenia, Systemic lupus erythematosus