ANALYSIS OF THE TERMINOLOGY USED IN PATIENTS WITH LUPUS MANIFESTATIONS WHO DO NOT MEET THE CLASSIFICATION CRITERIA AND THEIR APPLICABILITY IN UNDIFFERENTIATED CONNECTIVE TISSUE DISEASE
- Carlos E. Toro Gutierrez, Colombia
Abstract
Background and Aims
At onset of SLE some patients present with nonspecific manifestations, therefore they often do not meet the classificatory criteria. Different definition terms (latent lupus, probable lupus, incomplete lupus, potential lupus, among others) have been used to refer to these patients. This study evaluates the applicability of these definition terms in a group of patients with undifferentiated connective tissue disease (UCTD).
Methods
A descriptive and retrospective study was performed. Adult patients diagnosed with UCTD, who did not meet the classification criteria of any defined CTD were included. Terminology was defined according its definition and criteria used for this purpose. Then we applied these terms in every patient. The information was extracted from the medical record, and a database was created to analiyze the results and calculate the proportions.
Results
Fifty-one patients with UCTD were included. All were females, the mean age at onset of the symptoms was 44.8 years and mean follow-up time was 3.8 years. After comparing classification criteria and definitions, all the patients meet the definition of "latent lupus", while only 92,08% meet the definition of "probable lupus", "incomplete lupus" and "potential lupus". No other relevant differences were found.
Conclusions
The difference between the patients who met the definition of "latent lupus" compared to other definitions is due to the inclusion of variables such as Raynaud's phenomenon and alopecia included only in this term. Finally, the term UCTD seems to be the most appropriate to define patients who have manifestations suggestive of SLE but do not meet classification criteria.