Malignancy in a series of 70 patients with systemic lupus erythematosus

Abstract

Abstract Eight of 70 patients with systemic lupus erythematosus (SLE) followed for a median interval of 6 years and 8 months, developed malignancies. These included a case of reticulum‐cell sarcoma, multiple myeloma, Bowen's carcinoma of the skin and five carcinomas of the cervix. Six of the patients had been treated with corticosteroids, in 2 cases in association with azathioprine. An increased incidence of malignancy may be present in SLE and this possibility should be explored further.