Systemic lupus erythematosus, rheumatology and medical literature: current trends.

An attempt is made to see if any correlation exists between the prevalence of 13 selected rheumatic diseases and the number of literature entries concerning these disorders in 1974 and 1983. Entries on systemic lupus are broken down in detail. It is concluded that interest in autoimmune diseases, especially their immunology, appears healthy. Lower morbidity disorders with a large prevalence (osteoarthritis, fibrositis, gout) may be disproportionately under-investigated. Whether any correlation between funding levels and literature entries can be made is speculative.