Retrospective analysis of the risk of hemorrhage associated with moderate and severe thrombocytopenia of 173 patients with systemic lupus erythematosus

The aim of the study was to observe the risk of hemorrhage from moderate and severe thrombocytopenia in systemic lupus erythematosus (SLE). A retrospective analysis was undertaken of cases admitted to Qilu Hospital, China. Blood platelet counts (BPCs) of <= 20 x 10(9)/L represent severe thrombocytopenia, and a BPC of 21 to 50 x 10(9)/L indicates moderate thrombocytopenia. A comparison was made from the perspective of severity with a view to determine the influence of thrombocytopenia on the risk of hemorrhage and the results. Moderate and severe thrombocytopenia occurred in 173 cases, accounting for 15.2% of the total hospitalized patients with SLE with a male to female ratio of 1:23.7. The average age of those patients was 34.8 +/- 14.6 years. In the group of severe thrombocytopenia, patients without visceral involvement had a mean age of onset of 31.4 +/- 14.2 years with a median of 28.0 years compared with 37.8 +/- 14.8 years with a median of 38.5 years for patients with visceral involvement; this difference was statistically significant (P=.034). Seventy-one (76.3%) of 93 patients with severe thrombocytopenia and 20 (25.0%) of 80 patients with moderate thrombocytopenia developed hemorrhagic conditions of various grades, the difference between both were markedly statistically significant. Twenty-three patients with SLE died. Nine deaths were due to a hemorrhage caused by thrombocytopenia, while more were caused by infection. Severe thrombocytopenia is a significant adverse prognostic factor of SLE. SLE with the main manifestation of thrombocytopenia tends to make younger visceral organ owners suffer.