Arthritis and hypertension in patients with systemic lupus erythematosus

Objective. The purpose of this study was to test the hypothesis that patients with systemic lupus erythematosus (SLE) who have, as part of their disease, persistent rheumatoid-like arthritis are less likely to be hypertensive than are other patients with SLE. Methods. A retrospective chart analysis of 662 patients with SLE seen in a university clinic was performed. Results. Data analysis revealed that hypertension and persistent arthritis were inversely correlated, particularly in those patients without nephritis and particularly in black patients. Conclusion. We conclude that rheumatoid-like arthritis in patients with SLE is protective against hypertension, and speculate that this protection is conferred by a higher frequency of the DR4 allele.