Clinical Analysis of Systemic Lupus Erythematosus in the Elderly for 33 Cases

The study analyzed 33 elderly patients with SLE and compared them to 63 younger patients. It found that elderly patients had a longer diagnosis time and fewer typical lupus symptoms like facial erythema and hair loss. They also had lower rates of urinary protein, decreased C3, increased ESR and CRP, thrombocytopenia, and white blood cell reduction. There was no significant difference in the presence of specific antibodies between the two groups. Elderly patients were less likely to receive intermittent intravenous CTX treatment but had a higher incidence of glucocorticoid side effects. Overall, elderly SLE patients exhibited fewer typical lupus symptoms and more hormonal side effects.