Noninfectious Causes of Fever in 128 Patients with Systemic Lupus Erythematosus

BACKGROUND: This study aimed to explore the clinical characteristics of noninfectious fever in patients with systemic lupus erythematosus (SLE) and the underlying causes through multivariate analysis. METHODS: Clinical data of 128 patients with SLE who were admitted to Affiliated Hospital of Nanjing University of TCM, Nanjing 210029, P.R. China from January 2015 to December 2017 were retrospectively analyzed. RESULTS: The following factors were closely associated with fever: patient age, treatment history, SLEDAI score, enlarged liver, spleen and lymph nodes, low hemoglobin, leukopenia, CRP, complement C3, albumin, anti-dsDNA antibody, glucocorticoids, and cyclophosphamide. Multivariate logistic regression analysis showed that factors, such as enlarged liver, spleen and lymph nodes, digestive system involvement, low hemoglobin, leukopenia, CRP, decreased albumin, anti-dsDNA antibody, glucocorticoids and cyclophosphamide, were closely associated with noninfectious fever in SLE. CONCLUSION: Noninfectious fever is a common clinical manifestation of SLE. Factors, such as enlarged liver, spleen and lymph nodes, digestive system involvement, low hemoglobin, leukopenia, CRP, decreased albumin, anti-dsDNA antibody, glucocorticoids, and cyclophosphamide, were independent risk factors for noninfectious fever in SLE.