Inflammatory Bowel Disease in Systemic Lupus Erythematosus Patients: A Meta-analysis

Mansour, Howaida El Sayed; Allam, Mohamed Farouk; Hosny, Sherin Mohamed; Abdu, Amira Ibrahim

doi:10.21608/ejhm.2018.10580

Inflammatory Bowel Disease in Systemic Lupus Erythematosus Patients: A Meta-analysis

Document Type : Original Article

Authors

¹ Departments of Internal Medicine and Rheumatology, Faculty of Medicine, Ain-shams University

² Department of Community, Environmental and Occupational Medicine, Faculty of Medicine, Ain-shams University

10.21608/ejhm.2018.10580

Abstract

Background: Systemic lupus erythematosus (SLE) is a chronic inflammatory autoimmune disease with features of multisystem involvement, relapsing and remitting course. Gastrointestinal system affection is common in Lupus patients but coexistence of the inflammatory bowel disease (IBD) and SLE is rare. The coexistence of signs and symptoms of both diseases in the same patient represents a diagnostic challenge. Diagnoses of both diseases is difficult as both may share the same gastrointestinal features. Some of the therapies used in IBD may induce lupus. Aim of the study: To detect the presence of IBD in SLE patients. Methods: Only19 studies investigating the coexistence of IBD in SLE patients were published from January 2000 to March 2017 searching the Medline, PubMed, Ovid, Trip and Cochrane database. We excluded 16 studies (case reports) as they lacked the inclusion criteria for the meta-analysis. Only three studies were included in this systematic review. The prevalence/frequency and its 95% CI are included or estimated whenever possible. Results: Most of the studies that detected a statistical association between both diseases were case series and case control study that revealed the presence of IBD in some lupus patients. Criteria for the diagnosis of SLE cases and IBD cases were clearly explained in these studies, and same stratified results according to gender. The pooled results of all cases with SLE were (total 6665) showed that, there were IBD cases (total 79) associated with lupus with a frequency (95% CI) is 1.19% (0.96-1.48). Conclusion: The prevalence of IBD in SLE patients is rare however, the coexistence of both diseases in the same patient could occur.

Keywords