RATE OF OCCURRENCE OF PHOTOSENSITIVITY IN SYSTEMIC LUPU ERYTHEMATOSUS

Background:Systemic Lupus Erythematosus is a chronic inflammatory disease appear to result from an immune-regulatory disturbance brought about by the interplay of genetic, hormonal and environmental factors. It is primarily a disease of young women. Its peak incidence occurs between the ages of 15 and 40 years. Patients and methods:-Consecutive unselected patients with Systemic Lupus Erythematosus who met four or more of the American Rheumatism Association (1982) revised criteria for the classification of SLE, who were attending Baghdad Teaching Hospital both inpatients and out patients were included in the study. The time of the study was between Dec 1995 and May 1996. Examination of the patients was carried out at the rheumatology and dermatology units. A questionnaire was constructed for the purpose of the study. Results: giving a ratio of female to male as 7:1. Mean age was 28.1 year for female and 26 years for male. In female the mean duration of the disease was 4.3 years and 2.2 years for male. Joint involvement was found in 56(87.5%), renal disease in 37 (57.8%), Central Nervous System disorder in 12 (18.7%) Thirty-eight (59.3%) had anemia, 22 (34.3%) had leukopenia, 4(6.2%) had thrombocytopenia, and 58 (90.6%) had positive ANA. There was no significant difference in the prevalence of photosensitivity among different skin colour groups and in different disease activity groups of patients (P?vale: 0.97, 0.68 respectively). Conclusion: Iraqi patients with SLE has high rate of photosensitivity. Sun protection is vital.