A retrospective study found a link between lupus and pulmonary embolism (PE), reports Healio.

Systemic lupus erythematosus (SLE) is an inflammatory disorder and therefore independently poses a risk of PE. We aimed to determine the association of SLE and PE using National Hospital Discharge Survey data for the period 2001 to 2010. Patients 15 years or older were included in the study. Regression analysis was done including hyperlipidemia, heart failure, lower-limb injury or surgery, hypertension, diabetes cerebrovascular disease, and cancer.

They found a significant association between lupus and pulmonary embolism, after adjustment for gender, race, age and comorbidities (ratio = 2). Of the comorbidities, primary hypercoagulable disorder had the greatest link with pulmonary embolism (ratio = 15.37). In addition, African-American race was linked with pulmonary embolism (ratio = 1.08) when compared with white patients.

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