Challenges in Diagnosis and Management of SLE in Africa: An Online Survey.
Journal
ACR open rheumatology
ISSN: 2578-5745
Titre abrégé: ACR Open Rheumatol
Pays: United States
ID NLM: 101740025
Informations de publication
Date de publication:
09 Oct 2024
09 Oct 2024
Historique:
revised:
03
08
2024
received:
05
04
2024
accepted:
13
09
2024
medline:
9
10
2024
pubmed:
9
10
2024
entrez:
9
10
2024
Statut:
aheadofprint
Résumé
We surveyed African physicians about challenges in diagnosis and management of systemic lupus erythematosus (SLE). We used a cross-sectional, online questionnaire-based survey of African specialist physicians on availability of laboratory tests, medications, and specialized services for the diagnosis of SLE. Our 226 respondents from 31 countries were dermatologists (38%), rheumatologists (28%), and nephrologists (23%), the majority practicing at university/state-funded hospitals (80.8%), but over half of patients (59.6%) were self-funded for laboratory tests and medications. Antinuclear antibody (ANA), antiphospholipid antibody, and complement tests were available to 79.4%, 67.6%, and 62.3% of respondents, respectively, but fewer in the East and West African regions. Median turnaround time for the ANA test was within two weeks but more than four weeks for 5.6% of respondents, and longer in West Africa compared with other regions (P = 0.0002). Availability of urine protein-to-creatinine test, skin and renal histopathology was 82%, 82.5%, and 76.2%, respectively. Median turnaround times were within one to two weeks, but more than four weeks for 13.8% of respondents for skin histology results and usually within four weeks but more than four weeks for 24.5% of respondents for renal histology. Glucocorticoids and antimalarials were readily available across all regions, with variable availability of immunosuppressants from 93.7% for methotrexate to 65% for calcineurin inhibitors and only 58.4% for the biologic rituximab. Intensive care units/high care facilities, hemodialysis, and renal transplantation were available to 69.8%, 91.9%, and 56.5% of respondents, respectively. Variable availability of laboratory tests, medications, and supportive services coupled with cost constraints are major impediments to early diagnosis and optimal management of SLE in most of Africa and are likely factors contributing to underreporting and poor prognosis of SLE in Africa.
Types de publication
Journal Article
Langues
eng
Informations de copyright
© 2024 The Author(s). ACR Open Rheumatology published by Wiley Periodicals LLC on behalf of American College of Rheumatology.
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