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

Abstract

We suggest that adjusted neutropenia is useful for predicting early serious infection in SLE patients during the first follow-up year.

Leukopenia, lymphopenia, and neutropenia in systemic lupus erythematosus: Prevalence and clinical impact—A systematic literature review

“…Similar results were also reported for neutropenia; some studies suggested that neutropenia, especially if persistent, could represent the only strong risk for severe infections (11,19) while other studies did not.…”

“…Similarly, in the study by Irastorza et al (22), the association between major infections and leukopenia (Odds Ratio 1.99 at univariate analysis) lost significance after controlling for confounding factors; no association was also reported in the other studies (12,19,20,24) in Asian as well as Caucasian SLE patients (11,22).…”

“…In four of them, only the occurrence of severe infections (requiring systemic antimicrobial therapy, hospitalization) was analyzed (19,20,21,22).…”

An Evaluation of the Association of Leukopenia and Severe Infection in Patients With Systemic Lupus Erythematosus

“…13Y15 The association between leukopenia and severe infection remains controversial in SLE. Some studies showed lymphopenia at presentation 13 and neutropenia 14,15 associated with infection in SLE, but other studies do not support the role of leukopenia as a predisposition to severe infection in SLE. 16Y18 The association between leukopenia and infection is a timedependent relationship.…”

Prevalence and Risk Factors Associated with Neutropenia in Hospitalized Patients with Systemic Lupus Erythematosus

“…Increased peripheral destruction of granulocyte by circulating antineutrophil antibodies [7], increased margination or changes in marginal and splenic pool [8], and decreased granulocytopoiesis in the bone marrow [9,10] were suggested as potential mechanisms. Clinically, neutropenia in SLE patients can increase susceptibility to recurrent infection [3,11]. Infection can be detrimental in the immunocompromised patients, thus neutropenia occurring in the SLE patients require high level of vigilance.…”