Clinical and immunological manifestations in 151 SLE patients living in Dubai

This study examined 151 systemic lupus erythematosus (SLE) patients in Dubai, revealing a female to male ratio of 20.5:1 and a mean age of 35.5 years. The most common clinical manifestations were arthritis (88%), haematological abnormalities (61.6%), and malar rash (60.3%). Hair loss, leucopenia, fever, and proteinuria were observed in about half of the patients. Anti-nuclear antibodies were present in 98% of patients, with a high prevalence of anti-Ro antibodies (52.3%), suggesting a characteristic feature among Middle Eastern SLE patients. The study concluded that the clinical features of SLE in Dubai were similar to those in other Arab and Western countries.