[The evolution of systemic lupus erythematosus].

172 patients with systemic lupus erythematodes (SLE), mean age 35, 4 years and mean duration of the disease 5,9 years, were followed up with the aim to study the evolution of the disease in the Bulgarian population. After 44 months of observation the patients are classified in 3 groups: A. Subclinical SLE--32 patients, B--classical SLE without unfavourable prognosis and signs--62 patients, C. SLE with a heavy course and poor prognosis--78 patients. The three groups are compared according to: mean age of the onset of the disease, mean duration of the disease up to the time of the study, mean duration up to the appearance of poor prognostic signs, number and types of the complications in the three groups up to the time of the study, number of deaths. The patients with unfavourable prognosis are with an earlier onset of the disease compared with the other patients (p less than 0.001), rapid development of severe prognostic signs in relation to the mean duration of the disease in the three groups (p less than 0.001), frequent and severe complications. 25 patients from the group with a severe course have died. The patients with a favourable course of the disease from groups A and B are with a later onset of the disease, longer duration, do not develop severe prognostic signs, the complications are mild and rare and there are no deaths.