The prevalence and pattern of lupus erythematosus (LE) cell positivity
in diseases in Ile-Ife, Osun state was carried out between January 1999
and June 2004 (5 1/2 years). A total of 96 patients with different
diseases were screened for LE cell using standard techniques. Of this
number, 63 (65.6%) were females and 33 (34.4%) were males, their age
ranges between 2 and 65 years (x 26.5 years). Twelve (12.5%) were
positive for LE cell within the period. Forty five (46.9%) were
screened between January 1999 and December 2002 (4 years), 4 (4.2%)
were positive for LE cell. Fifty one (53.1%) were screened between
January 2003 and June 2004 (11/2 years), 8 (8.3%) were positive for LE
cell. It was observed from the study that the LE cell positivity is on
the increase due to increase number of requests especially from renal
patients. LE cell positivity is also greater in females 7 (7.3%) than
in males 5(5.2%) and occurs more in the second and third decades of
life
