Skip to main content

Main menu

  • Home
  • Content
    • First Release
    • Current
    • Archives
    • Collections
    • Audiovisual Rheum
    • COVID-19 and Rheumatology
  • Resources
    • Guide for Authors
    • Submit Manuscript
    • Payment
    • Reviewers
    • Advertisers
    • Classified Ads
    • Reprints and Translations
    • Permissions
    • Meetings
    • FAQ
    • Policies
  • Subscribers
    • Subscription Information
    • Purchase Subscription
    • Your Account
    • Terms and Conditions
  • About Us
    • About Us
    • Editorial Board
    • Letter from the Editor
    • Duncan A. Gordon Award
    • Privacy/GDPR Policy
    • Accessibility
  • Contact Us
  • JRheum Supplements
  • Services

User menu

  • My Cart
  • Log In

Search

  • Advanced search
The Journal of Rheumatology
  • JRheum Supplements
  • Services
  • My Cart
  • Log In
The Journal of Rheumatology

Advanced Search

  • Home
  • Content
    • First Release
    • Current
    • Archives
    • Collections
    • Audiovisual Rheum
    • COVID-19 and Rheumatology
  • Resources
    • Guide for Authors
    • Submit Manuscript
    • Payment
    • Reviewers
    • Advertisers
    • Classified Ads
    • Reprints and Translations
    • Permissions
    • Meetings
    • FAQ
    • Policies
  • Subscribers
    • Subscription Information
    • Purchase Subscription
    • Your Account
    • Terms and Conditions
  • About Us
    • About Us
    • Editorial Board
    • Letter from the Editor
    • Duncan A. Gordon Award
    • Privacy/GDPR Policy
    • Accessibility
  • Contact Us
  • Follow jrheum on Twitter
  • Visit jrheum on Facebook
  • Follow jrheum on LinkedIn
  • Follow jrheum on YouTube
  • Follow jrheum on Instagram
  • Follow jrheum on RSS
Research ArticleArticle

Liver Involvement in Systemic Lupus Erythematosus: Case Review of 40 Patients

VAIDEHI R. CHOWDHARY, CYNTHIA S. CROWSON, JOHN J. POTERUCHA and KEVIN G. MODER
The Journal of Rheumatology November 2008, 35 (11) 2159-2164; DOI: https://doi.org/10.3899/jrheum.080336
VAIDEHI R. CHOWDHARY
  • Find this author on Google Scholar
  • Find this author on PubMed
  • Search for this author on this site
CYNTHIA S. CROWSON
  • Find this author on Google Scholar
  • Find this author on PubMed
  • Search for this author on this site
JOHN J. POTERUCHA
  • Find this author on Google Scholar
  • Find this author on PubMed
  • Search for this author on this site
KEVIN G. MODER
  • Find this author on Google Scholar
  • Find this author on PubMed
  • Search for this author on this site
  • For correspondence: moder.kg@mayo.edu
  • Article
  • Info & Metrics
  • References
  • PDF
  • eLetters
PreviousNext
Loading

Abstract

Objective

Subclinical liver involvement is frequent in systemic lupus erythematosus (SLE). We sought to determine the presence of endstage liver disease in patients with SLE.

Methods

We carried out a retrospective chart review of our cohort of patients with SLE. Endstage liver disease was defined as presence or development of cirrhosis, portal hypertension, or hepatic encephalopathy.

Results

Forty patients with liver enzyme abnormalities were identified. Major clinical diagnostic groups were drug-induced (n = 4), viral hepatitis (hepatitis B or C and cytomegalovirus; n = 8), non-alcoholic fatty liver disease (NAFLD; n = 8), autoimmune hepatitis (AIH; n = 6), primary biliary cirrhosis (PBC; n = 3), and miscellaneous [n = 11; liver involvement from infection (2), cryptogenic cirrhosis (2), lymphoma (1), and indeterminate (6)]. There were no differences in mean age, total and direct bilirubin, or aspartate aminotransferase and alkaline phosphatase levels. Alanine aminotransferase levels were higher in the miscellaneous group. Biopsies were performed in 20 patients and showed changes of NAFLD (n = 5), AIH (n = 4), PBC (n = 3), hepatitis C (n = 3), and cryptogenic cirrhosis (n = 2), and 1 each with phenytoin-induced liver injury, hepatic granulomas due to systemic candidiasis, and lymphomatous involvement of the liver. The median followup was 44 months (range 10–576). The estimated 5-year serious liver disease-free survival was 93% (95% confidence interval 84%–100%). Eight patients died. Mortality was not directly related to liver disease in any patient.

Conclusion

Complications of portal hypertension, cirrhosis, and hepatic encephalopathy are rare manifestations of SLE unless coexistent liver disease such as NAFLD, viral hepatitis, or AIH is present.

Key Indexing Terms:
  • SYSTEMIC LUPUS ERYTHEMATOSUS
  • LIVER DISEASE
  • PROGNOSIS

Footnotes

  • V.R. Chowdhary, MD, Division of Rheumatology, Department of Medicine; C.S. Crowson, MS, Division of Biostatistics, Department of Health Sciences Research; J.J. Poterucha, MD, Division of Gastroenterology and Hepatology, Department of Medicine; K.G. Moder, MD, Division of Rheumatology, Department of Medicine.

    • Accepted for publication June 3, 2008.
PreviousNext
Back to top

In this issue

The Journal of Rheumatology
Vol. 35, Issue 11
1 Nov 2008
  • Table of Contents
  • Index by Author
Download PDF
Article Alerts
Sign In to Email Alerts with your Email Address
Email Article

Thank you for your interest in spreading the word about The Journal of Rheumatology.

NOTE: We only request your email address so that the person you are recommending the page to knows that you wanted them to see it, and that it is not junk mail. We do not capture any email address.

Enter multiple addresses on separate lines or separate them with commas.
Liver Involvement in Systemic Lupus Erythematosus: Case Review of 40 Patients
(Your Name) has forwarded a page to you from The Journal of Rheumatology
(Your Name) thought you would like to see this page from the The Journal of Rheumatology web site.
CAPTCHA
This question is for testing whether or not you are a human visitor and to prevent automated spam submissions.
Citation Tools
Liver Involvement in Systemic Lupus Erythematosus: Case Review of 40 Patients
VAIDEHI R. CHOWDHARY, CYNTHIA S. CROWSON, JOHN J. POTERUCHA, KEVIN G. MODER
The Journal of Rheumatology Nov 2008, 35 (11) 2159-2164; DOI: 10.3899/jrheum.080336

Citation Manager Formats

  • BibTeX
  • Bookends
  • EasyBib
  • EndNote (tagged)
  • EndNote 8 (xml)
  • Medlars
  • Mendeley
  • Papers
  • RefWorks Tagged
  • Ref Manager
  • RIS
  • Zotero

 Request Permissions

Share
Liver Involvement in Systemic Lupus Erythematosus: Case Review of 40 Patients
VAIDEHI R. CHOWDHARY, CYNTHIA S. CROWSON, JOHN J. POTERUCHA, KEVIN G. MODER
The Journal of Rheumatology Nov 2008, 35 (11) 2159-2164; DOI: 10.3899/jrheum.080336
Reddit logo Twitter logo Facebook logo Mendeley logo
  • Tweet Widget
  • Facebook Like
  • Google Plus One
Bookmark this article

Jump to section

  • Article
  • Info & Metrics
  • References
  • PDF
  • eLetters

Related Articles

Cited By...

More in this TOC Section

  • Do Patterns of Early Disease Severity Predict Grade 12 Academic Achievement in Youths With Childhood-Onset Chronic Rheumatic Diseases?
  • High Prevalence of Foot Insufficiency Fractures in Patients With Inflammatory Rheumatic Musculoskeletal Diseases
  • Real-world Retention and Clinical Effectiveness of Secukinumab for Axial Spondyloarthritis: Results From the Canadian Spondyloarthritis Research Network
Show more Article

Similar Articles

Content

  • First Release
  • Current
  • Archives
  • Collections
  • Audiovisual Rheum
  • COVID-19 and Rheumatology

Resources

  • Guide for Authors
  • Submit Manuscript
  • Author Payment
  • Reviewers
  • Advertisers
  • Classified Ads
  • Reprints and Translations
  • Permissions
  • Meetings
  • FAQ
  • Policies

Subscribers

  • Subscription Information
  • Purchase Subscription
  • Your Account
  • Terms and Conditions

More

  • About Us
  • Contact Us
  • My Alerts
  • My Folders
  • Privacy/GDPR Policy
  • RSS Feeds
The Journal of Rheumatology
The content of this site is intended for health care professionals.
Copyright © 2022 by The Journal of Rheumatology Publishing Co. Ltd.
Print ISSN: 0315-162X; Online ISSN: 1499-2752
Powered by HighWire