Risk factors for infection in patients with systemic lupus erythematosus

Infection often complicates systemic lupus erythematosus (SLE) and has become the most common cause of death in patients with SLE. It is, therefore, important to identify risk factors for infection in the management of SLE patients. Risk factor modification or prophylactic antibiotic use could decrease the incidence or severity of infection, improving the prognosis for SLE patients. The following risk factors for infection have been reported: an increase in disease activity of SLE, presence of nephrotic syndrome or renal failure attributed to lupus nephritis, an increase in corticosteroid dose, use of cytotoxic drugs, especially cyclophosphamide, and a decrease in serum albumin value. A prediction model for infection using these risk factors appears applicable in clinical practice, and two such models have been reported: one predicting infection from disease activity of SLE, and the other a logistic model using serum albumin value, serum creatinine value and corticosteroid dose as independent variables.