Objectives: to estimate the effect of complement level changes on clinical manifestations, visceral damage and
mortality in our patients with SLE.
Patients and method(s): A cross sectional study including 50 patients attending to South Valley University
Hospitals have been included in the study for assessment of complement levels in patients with SLE and
correlating complement levels with renal, neuropsychiatric, cardiac and hematological manifestations of SLE.
Result(s): The most common organ system involved was the musculoskeletal system, with arthritis in 76% of
the cases. This was followed by cutaneous manifestations (72%), then lupus nephritis (62%), CNS lupus (44%),
hematological (30%) and lastly CVS (12%). Non of our cases showed liver impairment. Around two thirds of
patients with renal involvement had consumed complement, compared to only 26% among those with no renal
involvement; with a significant difference. It also shows that there is no significant difference between
hypertension and complement level. Over 72% of patients with CNS involvement had consumed complement,
compared to only 32% among those with no CNS involvement; with a significant difference. There is no
significant relation between blood disorders, arthritis, mucocutaneous in lupus patients and complement
consumption.
Conclusion: Our study suggested that complement consumption was strongly associated with lupus nephritis
and to a lesser extent; CNS lupus, but not with other organ involvement in SLE patients.