Systemic Lupus Erythematosus and allergy: an integrative review of the literature

Objectives: To investigate, in the literature, the existence of studies that relate the occurrence of allergic diseases in patients with Systemic Lupus Erythematosus (SLE). Methods: For the study, we used the model of integrative literature review. This was developed in stages: selection of hypotheses or questions for review, selection of research to write the review sample, defining the characteristics of primary research that comprise the review sample, interpretation and reporting the results of the review For the electronic search of the literature it was used databases of health sciences in general (LILACS, MEDLINE/PubMed and SciELO). We included original full articles, published between 1982 and 2012 in English, Portuguese or Spanish, to evaluate clinical and laboratory aspects of the association between SLE and allergy Results: The literature review found 26 articles that met the inclusion criteria previously established. Most of the studies demonstrated higher allergic diseases prevalence in SLE patients and/or their family members when compared to a control group without the disease that suggests a possible genetic similarity between the two diseases. There was also an increase in serum IgE levels in SLE patients, which correlated with the presence of allergic reactions and disease activity in some studies. However, were observed in some studies results contrary to these. In addition, some articles have evaluated the association between sex hormones, SLE and allergies, and suggests the ability of estrogen to be related to hyperresponsiveness to endogenous or exogenous antigens. Conclusion: The association between allergic diseases, adverse drug reactions and increasing of serum levels of IgE and the presence of SLE remains controversial. Most of the articles analyzed in this review demonstrated an association between allergic diseases and SLE. In Addition, they showed that the increase of serum levels of IgE in patients with SLE is correlated with disease activity After this integrative review, we conclude that there is need to expand the studies on the relation between these two diseases, for to clarify all doubts of the subject.