Prevalence and risk factors of strongyloidiasis in patients with systemic lupus erythematosus in Southern Thailand

Abstract

Background Strongyloidiasis can be fatal in systemic lupus erythematosus (SLE) patients, but few epidemiological studies have investigated the burden of this tropical disease among the SLE population. This study aimed to assess the prevalence and associated factors of strongyloidiasis among SLE patients in Southern Thailand. Methods A cross-sectional study was conducted on 180 SLE patients attending the Rheumatology Clinic at Songklanagarind Hospital. Stool specimens were collected and examined using the direct smear technique and agar plate culture technique. Serum anti- Strongyloides stercoralis IgG was measured by IgG-ELISA. Results The overall prevalence of strongyloidiasis by combined parasitologyl and/or serology was 15.6%. The prevalence of strongyloidiasis by parasitological methods was 2.2%. Positive parasitology and/or serology was associated with male sex and a SLE disease duration of less than two years. Conclusion Strongyloidiasis is highly prevalent among the SLE population. A combination of serological and parasitological methods increases the rate of diagnosis of strongyloidiasis in SLE patients.

Risk factors for initial and recurrent severe infections in first hospitalized patients with systemic lupus erythematosus: A retrospective study of a Chinese cohort

“…Similar results were also found in the analysis of factors associated with initial severe infection in SLE patients without severe infection on admission. Other organ damage including pulmonary and hematological involvements were also demonstrated to increase the risk of infection 3,24,25 . In this study, cardiopulmonary involvement was borderline significant and associated with an approximately 1.6‐fold increased risk of initial severe infection.…”