Predictors of avascular necrosis of the hip in Emiratis patients with systemic lupus erythematosus.

Symptomatic avascular necrosis (AVN) of the hip is a known complication of systemic lupus erythematosus (SLE). Data on the prevalence of bone avascular necrosis (AVN) in Arab SLE patients are limited. We conducted a cross-sectional and retrospective case-control study on 126 SLE patients from Dubai to determine prevalence and predictors of symptomatic hip AVN. 8.7% of our lupus cohort demonstrated evidence of symptomatic hip AVN and had longer disease duration, higher cumulative steroid dose, and received cyclophosphamide and mycophenolate mofetil more often than the SLE patients without AVN (controls). Skin manifestations, serositis, lupus nephritis, neuropsychiatric lupus, and sero-positivity for autoantibodies: anti-DNA, Anti-Sm, and antiphospholipid antibodies were higher in patients than controls. Administration of hydroxychloroquine prior to onset of AVN was less frequent in cases than controls. In conclusion, disease activity, steroids, cytotoxic drugs, and antiphospholipid antibodies are important predictors of symptomatic AVN in Emirati patients with SLE, Hydroxychloroquine may play a protective role against developing AVN in Emiratis with SLE. Controlled longitudinal studies are essential to validate these findings.