Journal of Diagnostics Concepts & Practice ›› 2024, Vol. 23 ›› Issue (03): 257-262.doi: 10.16150/j.1671-2870.2024.03.002

• Editorial • Previous Articles     Next Articles

Current status and challenges in diagnosis and treatment of systemic lupus erythematosus in China

ZHANG Xin, ZHAO Shengnan, FENG Xuebing()   

  1. Department of Rheumatology and Immunology, the Affiliated Drum Tower Hospital of Nanjing University Medical School, Nanjing 210008, China
  • Received:2024-05-30 Accepted:2024-06-19 Online:2024-06-25 Published:2024-06-25
  • Contact: FENG Xuebing E-mail:xb.feng@163.com

Abstract:

Systemic lupus erythematosus (SLE) is an autoimmune disease characterized by multiple system involvements. The number of SLE patients in China is large, and patients suffer more severe condition, with low remission rate ,high recurrence rate ,and high risk of infection.The situation of diagnosis and treatment for SLE is still serious. Relevant research released in 2023 shows that there are about 3.41 million cases of SLE patients in the world,and the number of patients in China amounts to 700 000-1 000 000, ranking the first in the world. The average onset age of SLE patients in China is 30.7 years old, and the incidence ratio of women to men is 12∶1.Organ involvement is more common in China, with 45.02% of renal involvement and 37.2% of haematological involvement, which are significantly higher than those in European patients with SLE (27.9% of renal involvement and 18.2% of haematological involvement). The clinical remission rate of SLE patients in China is 2.47%,while the relief rate reported internationally is 22.9%. Currently, the short-term survival rate of SLE patients in China is basically in line with that in the world (5-year survival rate reach 94%), but the long-term survival rate is still not optimistic, declining sharply, with a 25-30 year survival rate of only 30%. In China, 84.13% of SLE patients receive glucocorticoid(GC)therapy, while 42.6% SLE patients receive GC in the world. Infection is the leading cause of death for SLE patients in China, while in western countries, the main causes of death for SLE patients are cardiovascular disease and tumors With the proposal of new classification standards, the introduction of the concept of up-to-date treatment, as well as the use of new treatment methods, the development of SLE diagnosis and treatment will be greatly promoted, and it is expected to further improve the prognosis of patients in China.

Key words: Systemic lupus erythematosus, Classification criteria, Treat to target, Biological agents

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