WEDNESDAY, Dec. 14 (HealthDay News) -- Although more patients with systemic lupus erythematosus (SLE) are receiving treatment for elevated cholesterol and hypertension, many still remain untreated, according to a report in the January 2006 issue of the Annals of the Rheumatic Diseases.
Murray B. Urowitz, M.D., of Toronto Western Hospital in Canada, and colleagues reviewed the charts of all SLE patients who entered the University of Toronto Lupus Clinic since 1990. The researchers evaluated the recognition and management of hypercholesterolemia and hypertension in SLE patients between 1990-1995 and 1996-2001.
Overall, 36% of the SLE patients had hypertension during 1990-1995, and 88% of them received antihypertensive treatment. By contrast, 42% of SLE patients were hypertensive in 1996-2001, of whom 96% were treated. Meanwhile, 9% of the SLE patients were treated for elevated cholesterol during the earlier period, compared with 28% during the later period, the researchers found.
"Treatment for hypertension and hyperlipidemia has increased in the past six years compared with the previous six years, but a number of patients eligible for these treatments remain untreated," the authors conclude.
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