Survivorship in systemic lupus erythematosus: Relationship to race and pregnancy

Abstract

Abstract Survival time following diagnosis of SLE was studied in 158 white, 41 Puerto Rican, and 93 Negro females, 15 to 44 years old. Survivorship was independent of ethnic group and marital status. Following pregnancy, survival time depended on renal and neurological complications, and interval between diagnosis and pregnancy. Differences in survival between pregnant and nonpregnant married patients reflected less severe disease in those able to conceive, and possibly beneficial effects of hormonal change during gestation.