COMPARISION OF SOCIODEMOGRAPHIC, CLINICAL AND ORAL SYMPTOMS IN SYSTEMIC LUPUS ERYTHEMATOSUS WITH AND WITHOUT LUPUS NEPHRITIS

Objectives: To record the incidence of Lupus Nephritis(LN) in our population and compare the severity of clinical and oral findings in Systemic Lupus Erythematosus(SLE) patients with and without LN in different sociodemographic.
Methods: Hundred diagnosed cases of SLE were taken and sorted into two groups according to LN, in Group 1 without LN and group 2 with LN and was also divided on sociodemographic basis. History was recorded with clinical and oral examination.
Results: In my study 53% patients had LN. Female predominance(87.3% vs 94.3%) and family history of SLE(8.51% vs 17%) were slightly higher in group 2 compared to group 1. Age group 21-35(42.5% vs 60%) and poor socioeconomic status(57.4% vs 45.3%) were affected more commonly for both groups. Group 2 had 90% patients in 0-8 year’s duration of disease group compared to group 1(78%). Mean corticosteroid use was nearly half in group 1(9.3mg vs 16.4mg). Patients in group 1 presented more often with photosensitivity(68.1% vs 56.7%), arthritis(59.5% vs 51%) whereas skin lesions(8.5% vs 15%) and weight loss(10.6% vs 21%) were common in group 2. Oral symptoms such as, lip lesions(34.0% vs 28.4%) and history of oral ulcers during the disease(55.4% vs 47%) were more common in group 1 and glossitis(27.6% vs 40%) was common in group 2. Mean age(28.54 vs 25.96years), onset age(23.77 vs 22.38years) and other clinical and oral findings were similar values like malar rash(15% vs 15%), psychosis(10% vs 7.5%), gingival bleeding(34% vs 30%), oral ulcers present(23.4% vs 24.5%), xerostomia(53.2% vs 51%) and hair loss(21.2% vs 24.5%).
Conclusions: Clinical and oral symptoms don’t differ greatly in patients with or without LN, patients in former require a higher dose of corticosteroids to keep the disease under control. Patients with poor socioeconomic status are more affected with the disease so there should be more resources reserved for them to access special care.