Dr. NIVEDITA GURU

Abstract

AIM : To study retinopathy pattern in systemic lupus erythematosus (SLE) and its significance in SLE patients in Western Odisha.

MATERIALS AND METHODS : It was a prospective study from April 2018 to February 2020 on lupus retinopathy in 152 patients with SLE. Clinical and laboratory findings in the patients with retinopathy and those without were compared.

RESULTS: Among 152 SLE patients, 2 were male and 150 were female. Lupus retinopathy was found in 23 patients. Retinopathy included haemorrhages, cotton wool spots, hard exudates reflecting vascular damage. Retinopathy was associated with central nervous system lupus (p<0.05).Patients with retinopathy had higher mean serum creatinine levels (187.8micromols/l) than those without retinopathy (92.7micromols/l) with p < 0.005. CONCLUSION: Retinal lesions in SLE patients are of critical importance, both visually and prognostically and it reflects systemic vascular damage, so ocular fundus examination should be regularly done.