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Pattern of systemic lupus erythematosus in NIGERIA: a multicentre descriptive hospital-based study

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Abstract

Introduction

Systemic lupus erythematosus (SLE) is a chronic autoimmune inflammatory disease with manifestations ranging from mild to life-threatening organ dysfunction. There is wide variability in the reported incidence and prevalence rate globally, particularly in low and middle-income countries. Nigeria had very few isolated reports of SLE from private and public hospitals Therefore, we conducted this large multi-center descriptive study to determine the sociodemographic, clinical profile, laboratory patterns, and treatment among Nigerian lupus patients.

Methods

A retrospective hospital-based study of all SLE patients seen over 4 years (January 2017 to December 2020) was conducted at 20 rheumatology clinics spread across the 6 geopolitical zones of Nigeria. All patients 18 years and above satisfying the American College of Rheumatology (ACR) 1997 and/or the Systemic Lupus International Collaboration Clinics (SLICC) 2012 classification criteria for SLE were enrolled. Patients with other Rheumatic and Musculoskeletal Diseases (RMDs) not in keeping with SLE and Patients with incomplete data were excluded. Data was analysed using SPSS version 23.0 software.

Results

A total of 896 patients with SLE were included in the final analysis with a mean age ± SD of 34.47 ± 11 and a female to male ratio of 8.1:1. Synovitis was reported by 61.6% of patients, while 51%, 19.9% and11.4% patients reported acute, sub-acute and chronic lupus rashes respectively. ANA was positive in 98.0% with titers ranging from 1:80 to 1:64,000.

Conclusion

SLE is not rare in Nigeria. Most patients were female in their 3rd to 4th decades of life. There is a delayed presentation to a rheumatology facility. Arthritis and mucocutaneous manifestations were the most frequent presentation.

Key Points

•This study presents the first national data on SLE in Nigeria

•This study showed that SLE is not rare in Nigeria in contrast to previous reports

•There appear to be ethnic disparity in the frequency of lupus among Nigerians

•Nigerians with lupus have very high titer of ANA

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Data availability

Data can be provided on request and after approval by all authors.

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Acknowledgements

We acknowledge the International League of Associations for Rheumatology (ILAR) Project 2020 for funding the LURIN.

Author information

Authors and Affiliations

  1. Kubwa General Hospital Abuja, Abuja, Nigeria

    Ojo Osaze

  2. Lagos State University College of Medicine/ Lagos State University Teaching Hospital, Ikeja, Lagos, Nigeria

    Hakeem Babatunde Olaosebikan & Olufemi Adelowo

  3. Department of Medicine, University of Maiduguri, Maiduguri, Borno State, Nigeria

    Abubakar Yerima

  4. Department of Medicine, College of Health Sciences, University of Jos, Jos, Nigeria

    Courage Ukponmwan Uhunmwangho

  5. Lagos University Teaching Hospital, Lagos, Nigeria

    Uyiekpen Emmanuel Ima-Edomwonyi

  6. Olabisi Onabanjo University, Sagamu, Nigeria

    Akintayo Segun Oguntona

  7. Department of Medicine, University of Nigeria, Enugu, Nigeria

    Okwara Celestine Chibuzo

  8. Department of Medicine, University College Hospital, Ibadan, Oyo State, Nigeria

    Ibukunoluwa Ayoade Dedeke

  9. Aminu Kano Teaching Hospital, Kano, Nigeria

    Musa Bello Kofar Na’isa

  10. College of Medicine, Nnamdi Azikiwe University Awka, Awka, Nigeria

    Henry Madu Nwankwo

  11. University of Benin Teaching Hospital, Benin, Edo State, Nigeria

    Mary Agun-Ebreme

  12. Department of Internal Medicine, Alex Ekwueme Federal University Teaching Hospital Abakaliki, Abakaliki, Nigeria

    Obiageli Jane John-Maduagwu

  13. Federal Medical Center Owerri, Owerri, Nigeria

    Ngozi Lina Ekeigwe

  14. Federal Medical Centre, Gombe, Gombe State, Nigeria

    Ajibade Adenitan

  15. Irrua Specialist Teaching Hospital, Irrua, Edo State, Nigeria

    Airenakho Emorinken

  16. Obafemi Awolowo University Teaching Hospitals Complex, Ile-Ife, Osun State, Nigeria

    Gbenga Joshua Odunlami

  17. University of Port Harcourt Teaching Hospital, Port Harcourt, Rivers State, Nigeria

    Tralagba Uchechukwu

  18. Usmanu Danfodiyo University Teaching Hospital Sokoto, Sokoto, Nigeria

    Abdullahi Ibrahim Augie

  19. Department of Medicine, Ahmadu Bello University Teaching Hospital Zaria, Zaria, Nigeria

    Umar Abdul’Aziz

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  1. Ojo Osaze
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  2. Hakeem Babatunde Olaosebikan
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  15. Airenakho Emorinken
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  16. Gbenga Joshua Odunlami
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  17. Tralagba Uchechukwu
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  18. Abdullahi Ibrahim Augie
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  19. Umar Abdul’Aziz
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  20. Olufemi Adelowo
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Corresponding author

Correspondence to Courage Ukponmwan Uhunmwangho.

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Osaze, O., Olaosebikan, H.B., Yerima, A. et al. Pattern of systemic lupus erythematosus in NIGERIA: a multicentre descriptive hospital-based study. Clin Rheumatol 42, 2787–2797 (2023). https://doi.org/10.1007/s10067-023-06672-y

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