Risk factors of avascular necrosis of the femoral head in patients with systemic lupus erythematosus under high-dose corticosteroid therapy.

A prospective study of systemic lupus erythematosus (SLE) patients under high doses of corticosteroid therapy (greater than 30 mg/day prednisolone) for a five-year period elucidated some risk factors of avascular necrosis of the femoral head (ANFH). A complete survey was performed on 62 patients, of whom nine patients developed ANFH during the period of study. The risk factors in the causation of ANFH were ascertained on the basis of characteristic clinical features of SLE, a typical pattern of laboratory data at the onset of ANFH, and the mode of glucocorticosteroid administration observed from a statistical point of view. The risk factors include stomatitis, drug-induced lupus, lupus erythematosus cell positive rheumatoid arthritis, interstitial pneumonitis, and thrombocytopenic purpura (characteristic clinical features); increased total cholesterol, glutamic oxaloacetic transaminase, glutamic pyruvic transaminase, alkaline phosphatase, red blood cell, hemoglobin, and albumin/globulin; advanced renal failure (pattern abnormality of laboratory data); and a rash introduction of high-dose corticosteroid therapy (greater than or equal to 30 mg/day prednisolone) without corticosteroid preloading (mode of administration).