Gastrointestinal and Hepatobiliary Manifestations in Systemic Lupus Erythematosus
Somchai Luangjaru, MD*, Pinit Kullavanijaya, MD**
Affiliation : * Department of Medicine, Maharat Nakhon Ratchasima Hospital, Nakhon Ratchasima ** Department of Medicine, Faculty of Medicine, Chulalongkorn University
Objective : To report GI and Hepatobiliary manifestations in SLE from Chulalongkorn Hospital in the year 2000.
Materials and Methods : A retrospective study of SLE patients in the Rheumatological Clinic, Medical
Department, Chulalongkorn University.
Results : A total 225 SLE patients were found being mainly female (93.3%). The mean age was 32.13 + 11.65
years and they almost all lived in the central part of Thailand (79.1%). At diagnosis, the majority of SLE
cases are active vital organ (72.1%), kidney and central nervous system are the main organ of involvement.
GI and hepatobiliary manifestations were found in 32.89% but did not lead to SLE diagnosis. The duration
between SLE diagnosis and first GI and hepatobiliary manifestations is 4.6 + 4.4 years. The 3 common
manifestations are abnormal liver function test, diarrhea and abdominal pain, with the prevalance rate of
34, 17 and 11% respectively.
Conclusion : GI and hepatobiliary manifestations of SLE patients in Chulalongkorn Hospital were found in
32.89% but were not specific and could be found in any part of the alimentary tract. The 3 common manifes-
tations were abnormal liver function tests, diarrhea and abdominal pain which were not specific enough to
diagnose SLE.
Keywords : GI and hepatobiliary manifestations, SLE
