INTRODUCTION: the articular manifestations of systemic lupus erythematosus are diverse and its whole spectrum is not fully appreciated by rheumatologists. OBJECTIVE: this study aimed to assess the frequency of different forms of lupus joint involvement. It had also an objective of this study to determine the relationship of different joint patterns and rheumatoid factor and the occurrence of hypermobility. MATERIAL AND METHODS: we studied 147 lupus patients for pattern of joint involvement, rheumatoid factor and presence of hypermobility by Beighton index. RESULTS: in the studied population 53.1% had joint complaints at diagnosis and 80.3% during the disease. Isolated arthralgia was present in 31.3%; arthritis with additive pattern was found in 36.1% and with migratory pattern in 12.9%. In 4.8% there was deforming arthritis: 2.1% with rhupus and 2.7 with Jaccoud's syndrome. We found a positive association between rheumatoid factor and additive arthritis (p<0.001). No association could be demonstrated between hypermobility and Jaccoud arthropathy. CONCLUSION: joint complaints are very common specially the presence of arthritis (additive and migratory). There is a higher positivity of rheumatoid factor in patients with the additive form.
systemic lupus erythematosus; arthritis; arthralgia; rhupus; Jaccoud
