Clinical characteristics of eight human immunodeficiency virus positive patients with systemic lupus erythematosus

ABSTRACT

Objective:

A retrospective study was used to collect and analyze the clinical characteristics, treatment and prognosis of eight HIV-positive patients with SLE treated in Yunnan Provincial Infectious Diseases Hospital from August 2017 to January 2020.

All of the eight patients were diagnosed with SLE after HIV infection. All of the patients were female. CD4 + T lymphocyte counts were >500/μL in four cases, 350 to 499/μL in two cases, and 200 to 349/μL in the remaining two cases. Case 6 presented with butterfly erythema on the face. In Case 1, hemoglobin was 40 g/L and urine occult blood was (+ + ). The hemoglobin of Case 2 was 76 g/L, the platelet count was 2×10 9/L, and the granulocyte count was 0.6×10 9/L. The lung computed tomography (CT) examination of Case 3 showed diffuse exudative lesions in both lungs. The 24 h urinary protein levels of Case 4 and 5 were 2 231.6 mg and 2 761.0 mg, respectively, and urine occult blood were (+ + ). The total bilirubin of Case 4 was 70.0 μmol/L and alanine aminotransferase (ALT) was 49 U/L. The total bilirubin of Case 7 was 129.6 μmol/L and ALT was 56 U/L. The lung CT examination of Case 8 showed moderate to massive pericardial effusion in the pericardium. Seven patients received antiviral therapy and immunotherapy, and their conditions were stable without relapse. Case 1 was refractory SLE complicated with autoimmune hemolytic anemia. After treated with rituximab combined with cyclophosphamide the patient achieved clinical remission. Case 7 was injection drug user and died after giving up treatment.

The clinical characteristics of HIV-positive patients with SLE are heterogeneous, and the prognosis is generally good after antiviral therapy and immunotherapy. For patients with refractory SLE complicated with autoimmune hemolytic anemia, clinical remission can also be achieved through active treatment.