Late-onset systemicus lupus erithematosus

Abstract

© 2014, Serbian Medical Society . All rights reserved. There is an assumption that the late-onset systemic lupus erythematosus (SLE), with the beginning after the age of 50, has a different clinical course, with an insidious start and non-specific first manifestations. The incidence of late-onset SLE is 12-20% of all patients with SLE. Atypical presentation, nonspecific initial clinical manifestations and smaller incidence of SLE in elderly population may contribute to the delayed diagnosis. It could be concluded that despite the less major organ involvement (nephritis, central nervous system), and more benign course of disease, late-onset SLE has poorer prognosis, because of the higher frequency of co-morbid conditions and higher organ damage, due to the aging and longer exposition to typical vascular risk factors. The prognosis depends not only on the disease per se, but on the clinical context in which it occurs. Strategies to reduce the occurrence of cardiovascular disease, osteoporosis, pathological fractures, infections and other forms of damage should be aggressively implemented particularly in the late-onset patients, and they have to be closely followed because they are more susceptible to damage in long-term follow-up.