Objective: To define the presenting manifestations, course and prognosis of systemic lupus erythematosus in Senegal.
Patients and methods: Thirty cases of systemic lupus erythematosus and lupus syndromes seen over a ten-year period were reviewed retrospectively. Nineteen patients met American College of Rheumatology criteria for systemic lupus erythematosus. All 30 patients were Senegalese-born black women. Mean age at diagnosis was 30 years (range, 16-73 years).
Results: Polyarthritis was the most common presenting picture (n = 8), followed by discoid lupus (n = 6). Eight per cent of patients had at least a combination of skin and joint symptoms at diagnosis. Prevalences of organ involvement were as follows: skin, 97%; joints, 97%; kidneys, 57%; serous membranes, 43%; nervous system, 23% and blood, 83%. Mean symptom duration at diagnosis was 24 months in systemic lupus erythematosus patients and 43 months in lupus syndrome patients. This significant diagnostic delay explains why as many as five of the 30 patients (17%) died either before or within five months of treatment initiation. Eight patients (32% of treated patients) who had a favorable course under therapy were lost to follow-up after discharge. The overall mortality rate was 26%. Renal failure was the main cause of death, followed by infectious and neurologic complications.
Conclusion: We anticipate that the reported prevalence of lupus in Senegal will rise in the near future as a result of improvements in diagnostic tools and of increased interest for lupus among physicians. We also hope that improved detection of mild and early forms, together with close long-term follow-up of patients, will translate into a better overall prognosis.