RESEARCH - Frequency of lymphadenopathy in RA and SLE

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J Int Med Res. 2003 Jul-Aug;31(4):345-9.

Frequency of lymphadenopathy in rheumatoid arthritis and systemic lupus

erythematosus.

Calgüneri M, Oztürk MA, Ozbalkan Z, Akdogan A, Ureten K, Kiraz S, Ertenli I.

Department of Rheumatology, Hacettepe University School of Medicine, Ankara,

Turkey.

This study aimed to assess the frequency of all palpable lymph nodes during

active disease and remission in patients with rheumatoid arthritis (RA) and

systemic lupus erythematosus (SLE). Hospital records of 100 SLE patients,

100 RA patients, 100 spondyloarthropathy patients, and 150 osteoarthritis

patients, treated in our rheumatology department, were evaluated

retrospectively. Overall frequencies of enlarged lymph nodes in patients

with active RA and SLE were 82% and 69%, respectively. Enlarged lymph nodes

associated with RA were mostly located in the axillary region, and in SLE

the nodes were smaller and lymphadenopathy was more generalized compared

with RA. Palpable lymph nodes disappeared in the majority of patients during

remission. Lymphadenopathy was significantly less frequent in patients

treated with steroids before admission. Lymph node enlargement is an

important physical finding associated with RA and SLE disease activity.

Atypical locations and unusually large lymph nodes should raise clinical

suspicion of another underlying disease.

PMID: 12964513

http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pubmed/12964513

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