Abstract: A comparative study of systemic lupus erythematosus in 39 male(MSLE) and 120 female (FSLE) patients was carried out.The results showed that,in MSLE,the mean age at the time of disease onset was similar to FSLE,and the clinical features were nearly the same as those in females,except that the first signs of MSLE were less complicated than those of FSLE,malar rash occurred less commonly in MSLE than in FSLE(P<0.05),and the positive rate of ANA was lower in males than that in females (P<0.05).The rate of nervous system involvement was higher in males than that in females (P<0.05).It was also shown that the interval between the time of disease onset and the time of diagnosis was shorter in MSLE than in FSLE (P<0.05).In male patients the renal involvement occurred more early,and the death rate was higher 5 years after disease onset(P<0.05).These results suggest that MSLE is more progressive and prognosis poorer.

Key words: Lupus erythematosus, systemic