Seminars in arthritis and rheumatism
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Semin. Arthritis Rheum. · Feb 2004
Clusters of clinical and immunologic features in systemic lupus erythematosus: analysis of 600 patients from a single center.
To analyze the prevalence and characteristics of the main clinical, hematologic, and immunologic manifestations of systemic lupus erythematosus (SLE) in a cohort of 600 consecutive patients from a single center, and to determine the specific characteristics of organ involvement in a homogeneous SLE population. ⋯ This large study, performed in a single center, has shown cluster associations between certain clinical, hematologic, and immunologic features of SLE, reflecting specific patterns of disease expression. The accurate evaluation of clinical features and laboratory markers at disease diagnosis and during evolution may improve the clinical treatment of SLE patients.