Haematological abnormalities

Haematologic disturbance is almost always present in patients with SLE during active disease.

Most have leukopaenia and, more specifically, lymphopenia which together with hypocomplementemia may cause frequent infections in SLE patients (1).

Other haematological features include:

• elevated ESR - during active disease
• thrombocytopaenia -
  • usually mild but occasionally, severe - < 1000 000 platelets per ml
  • may be part of a thrombotic thrombocytopenic purpura (TTP)–like syndrome or antiphospholipid antibody syndrome (APS).
• haemolytic anaemia with reticulocytosis
• lymphadenopathy - usually non-tender and occurs in cervical, axillary and inguinal regions

Reference:

• (1) Cojocaru M et al.Manifestations of systemic lupus erythematosus. Maedica (Buchar). 2011;6(4):330-6.