Lupus & antiphospholipid syndrome
Prevalence of Major Pulmonary Complications Among Patients With Systemic Lupus Erythematosus: A Systematic Review and Meta‐Analysis
Authors' conclusion
Major pulmonary complications in SLE are more prevalent than previously recognized, especially radiographic findings of ILAs. ILD with an NSIP pattern is the most common, although it is reassuring that DAH, SLS, and LP remain relatively rare.
Study context
- Population
- Individuals with systemic lupus erythematosus (SLE) in observational studies (PubMed and Embase)40 studies
- Outcome
- Pooled prevalence of major pulmonary complications: ILAs/radiographic ILD, clinical ILD, PAH, DAH, SLS and LP
Methodological detailsprospective and retrospective studies, pooled prevalence
- Prospective and retrospective studies
- Pooled prevalence
Pooled result
As reported in the abstract
Pooled prevalence of major pulmonary complications in SLE
- ILAs (radiographic interstitial lung disease (ILD)), pooled prevalence
- 12.39% (95% CI 9.68%-15.36%)
- Pulmonary arterial hypertension (PAH), pooled prevalence
- 2.30% (95% CI 1.84%-2.81%)
- Lupus pneumonitis (LP), pooled prevalence
- 3.05% (95% CI 1.53%-4.85%)
- Diffuse alveolar hemorrhage (DAH), pooled prevalence
- 1.37% (95% CI 0.70%-2.22%)
- Shrinking lung syndrome (SLS), pooled prevalence
- 1.25% (95% CI 0.05%-2.19%)
- Clinical ILD, pooled prevalence
- 2.92% (95% CI 1.50%-4.46%)
Further pooled results
ILD radiographic patterns among patients with SLE with ILD
- Nonspecific interstitial pneumonia (NSIP) pattern, prevalence
- 52.47% (95% CI 37.36%-67.37%)
- Usual interstitial pneumonia (UIP) pattern, prevalence
- 12.09% (95% CI 5.01%-21.24%)
Original publication
Prevalence of Major Pulmonary Complications Among Patients With Systemic Lupus Erythematosus: A Systematic Review and Meta‐Analysis. Arthritis Care Res (Hoboken). Published 7 August 2026. doi:10.
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