Patellar tendon rupture in systemic lupus erythematosus [see comments]

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Pritchard-C-H. Berney-S. Department of Medicine, Temple University Hospital, Philadelphia, PA. J-Rheumatol. 1989 Jun. 16(6). P 786-8. We investigated the frequency of patellar [1mtendon [m rupture in our patients with systemic lupus erythematosus (SLE) in order to characterize the features that might predict rupture and compared our experience to that described in the literature. Four of 180 patients with lupus seen in the last 10 years had patellar tendon rupture. Duration of disease ranged between 7-20 years. Each patient was in clinical remission at the time of rupture. Each patient also had deforming arthritis of the hands. All had been taking prednisone from 7 to 15 years and all had side effects associated with prednisone therapy, such as moon facies, compression fractures and osteonecrosis. Review of the literature reveals 17 patients with [1mtendon [m rupture. All had disease of long duration, had been taking corticosteroids for prolonged periods and had minimal or no disease activity at the time of rupture. Deforming hand arthropathy was present in all patients, when mentioned. No cases of [1mtendon [m rupture had been reported in patients not taking chronic corticosteroid therapy. Therefore, tendon [m rupture in SLE appears to be associated with extended disease duration, chronic corticosteroid therapy, evidence of steroid [m induced musculoskeletal complications, minimal disease activity and deforming hand arthropathy. Author-abstract.