Incidence studies of systemic lupus erythematosus in Southern Sweden: increasing age, decreasing frequency of renal manifestations and good prognosis.

Abstract

The incidence of SLE in Sweden was notably constant during the 11 years 1981-91. Mortality was low and only late mortality (> 10 years disease duration) exceeded that in an age and sex matched control population. Atherosclerosis was the main cause of damage and mortality. Specificity and sensitivity of the ACR classification criteria are high in this epidemiologically recruited cohort.