Gender-Related Differences in the Clinical, Immunological, and Treatment Characteristics of Patients with Systemic Lupus Erythematosus

Öz

This retrospective study aimed to evaluate sex-related differences in the clinical, laboratory, immunological, and treatment characteristics of patients with systemic lupus erythematosus (SLE) at a single tertiary center. The study included 68 SLE patients (34 females and 34 males) of similar ages at diagnosis, whose data were retrieved from electronic medical records between 2010 and 2025. Clinical manifestations, comorbidities, serological profiles, organ involvement, disease activity (SLEDAI), and treatment regimens were analyzed, and statistical analyses were performed using R software. The most frequent initial complaints in males were constitutional, cutaneous, and musculoskeletal symptoms, whereas musculoskeletal and cutaneous symptoms predominated in females. Leg swelling, as an initial manifestation, and renal involvement during disease progression were more frequent in males (p=0.029). Serologically, anti-double-stranded DNA, anti-cardiolipin IgG, and lupus anticoagulant positivity were higher in males, while complement C3 and C4 levels were lower in females (p<0.05 for all). Additionally, sicca symptoms, Raynaud’s phenomenon, livedo reticularis, and musculoskeletal involvement were more common in females, and intravenous methylprednisolone and cyclophosphamide use was more frequent in males. Although SLEDAI scores were higher in males, the difference was not statistically significant, and overall disease patterns were largely similar between sexes; however, male patients exhibited a higher frequency of renal involvement, accompanied by more frequent use of aggressive immunosuppressive treatment. These findings emphasize the importance of considering sex-specific differences in the clinical assessment, monitoring, and management of SLE patients.

Anahtar Kelimeler

• Gender.
• Males.
• Systemic Lupus Erythematosus.

Destekleyen Kurum

no

Etik Beyan

no

Teşekkür

no

Sistemik Lupus Eritematozus Hastalarında Klinik, İmmünolojik ve Tedavi Özelliklerinde Cinsiyete Bağlı Farklılıklar

Öz

Bu çalışma, tek bir üçüncü basamak merkezde takip edilen sistemik lupus eritematozus (SLE) hastalarının klinik, laboratuvar, immünolojik ve tedavi özelliklerindeki cinsiyete bağlı farklılıkları değerlendirmek amacıyla yapılmıştır. Bu retrospektif çalışmaya, tanı anındaki yaşları benzer 68 SLE hastası (34 kadın, 34 erkek) dahil edilmiştir. Veriler, 2010 ile 2025 yılları arasında elektronik hasta kayıtlarından elde edilmiştir. Klinik belirtiler, komorbiditeler, serolojik profiller, organ tutulumları, hastalık aktivitesi (SLEDAI) ve tedavi rejimleri analiz edildi. İstatistiksel analizler R yazılımı kullanılarak gerçekleştirildi. En sık görülen ilk şikayetler erkeklerde konstitüsyonel semptomlar, cilt belirtileri ve kas-iskelet sistemi semptomları iken, kadınlarda kas-iskelet sistemi semptomları ve cilt belirtileri idi. Erkek hastalarda ilk semptom olarak bacak şişliği oranları anlamlı olarak daha yüksekti ve hastalık seyri boyunca böbrek tutulum sıklığı daha fazlaydı (p=0,029). Serolojik olarak, çift sarmallı DNA’ya karşı antikor, anti-kardiyolipin IgG ve lupus antikoagülan pozitifliği erkeklerde anlamlı olarak daha yüksekken, kompleman C3 ve C4 düzeyleri kadınlarda daha düşüktü (hepsi için p<0,05). Sikka semptomları, Raynaud fenomeni, livedo retikularis ve kas-iskelet sistemi tutulumları kadınlarda daha sık görüldü. İntravenöz metilprednizolon ve siklofosfamid kullanımı erkeklerde anlamlı olarak daha yüksekti. Klinik SLEDAI skorları erkeklerde daha yüksek olmasına rağmen, bu fark istatistiksel olarak anlamlı değildi. Genel hastalık paternleri cinsiyetler arasında büyük ölçüde benzer olsa da, erkek SLE hastalarında böbrek tutulum sıklığı daha yüksekti, bu da agresif immünosüpresif tedaviye olan ihtiyacı artırdı. Bu bulgular, SLE yönetimi ve takip stratejilerinde cinsiyete dayalı farklılıkların önemini vurgulamaktadır.

Anahtar Kelimeler

• Cinsiyet.
• Erkek.
• Sistemik Lupus Eritematozus.

Destekleyen Kurum

yok

Etik Beyan

yok

Teşekkür

yok

Kaynakça

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