Climatic influence on the prevalence of noncutaneous disease flare in systemic lupus erythematosus in Hong Kong.

Objective: It is generally agreed that there is a seasonal variation in the prevalence of cutaneous manifestations of systemic lupus erythematosus (SLE). We investigated whether there is seasonal variation in the incidence of noncutaneous lupus flare in Hong Kong.

Methods: We reviewed all noncutaneous lupus flare in 222 consecutive patients with SLE followed in our clinic from 1995 to 2005.