Impact of smoking on the systemic lupus erythematosus cumulative damage

Abstract

Background: SLE (systemic lupus erythematosus) is an autoimmune disease that affects mostly young females. These patients may suffer with cumulative damage secondary to the disease itself or to the treatment. Smoking may affect the accrual damage.

Objective: To compare cumulative damage in smoking and non-smoking SLE patients.

Method: Retrospective study of 100 patients with SLE (50 smokers and 50 non-smokers) matched for gender, age, and disease duration, comparing cumulative damage by SLICC/ACR DI (Systemic Lupus Erythematosus International Collaborating Clinics/ American College of Rheumatology Damage Index).

Results: In the obtained sample, 90% of the patients had some permanent damage. The values for SLICC/ACR DI in both groups were equivalent. However, in the ocular and cardiovascular domains, smokers had higher scores than non-smokers. Conclusion: Patients with SLE smokers have a higher risk of permanent ocular and cardiovascular damage.