[Salmonella infections in patients with systemic lupus erythematosus].

A retrospective review was undertaken of zoonotic Salmonella infections among 173 patients with systemic lupus erythematosus (SLE) who were followed by two departments of rheumatology in Copenhagen during an average period of 16 years. A total of six Salmonella infections were registered in five patients as one patient had two episodes of infection with Salmonella typhimurium with an interval of three years. All six infections were diagnosed during the years 1986-1990. During the period 1984 to 1988, the number of registered Salmonella infections increased from 900 to 3,500 in the Danish background population. All six infections were accompanied by Salmonella bacteraemia. the present investigation and studies of the literature demonstrate a considerably increased risk of Salmonella bacteraemia in SLE patients as compared with the population as a whole. This should be borne in mind when febrile SLE patients are investigated.