Introduction:

leukopenia, lymphopenia and neutropenia association to clinical manifestations and infections in systemic lupus erythematosus (SLE) is not well defined. The objectives were to analize leucocytes and lymphocytes variations in SLE patients and their association to clinical manifestations, autoantibodies and infections risk.

Materials and methods:

total white blood cell (WBC) count, lymphocyte, and neutrophils counts were collected retrospectively. Data were grouped into normal WBC cell count, persistent or intermittent leucopenia and lymphopenia. Disease manifestations, accumulated autoantibodies, damage, mortality, infections and immunosuppressants ever received were registered.

Results:

study sample included 89 patients. Lymphopenia (89%) was the most common abnormality. Intermittent and persistent leukopenia were detected in 44% and 11% cases. Intermittent and persistent lymphopenia were found in 44% and 45% cases. In univariate analysis, discoid rash was associated to leukopenia (20.4 vs 5.1 p=0.059) and mycophenolate treatment to normal leukocyte count (p=0.046). Patients with neurological disorder tended to have normal lymphocyte counts rather than intermittent or persistent lymphopenia (22.2% vs 0% and 7.5% p=0.027); patients with anti-RNP tended to belong to the persistent lymphopenia group (47% vs 15.4% and 20% p=0.007). Infections were not associated to any of the categories. In multivariate analysis mycophenolate was negatively associated to leukopenia (OR 0.33 95% CI 0.1-0.9 p=0.042) while neurological disorder was negatively associated to lymphopenia (OR 0.08 p=0.022).

Conclusions:

in univariate analysis, discoid rash was associated to leukopenia and anti-RNP to lymphopenia. When adjusted to other significant variables, mycophenolate was related to normal leukocyte while neurological manifestations were to normal lymphocyte counts. Infections were not associated to any of the categories.

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