Occupational and Environmental Exposures as Risk Factors for Systemic Lupus Erythematosus

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Report

Occupational and Environmental Exposures as Risk

Factors for Systemic Lupus Erythematosus

Glinda S PhD and G Parks PhD

Epidemiology Branch MDA3-05, PO Box 12233, National

Institute of Environmental Health Sciences, Durham,

NC, 27709, USA

Current Rheumatology Reports 2004, 6:367-374

Published 1 October 2004

Abstract

Although genetic susceptibility plays a strong role in

the etiology of systemic lupus erythematosus (SLE),

recent research has provided new evidence of the

potential influence of environmental factors in the

risk for this disease. This paper describes

epidemiologic and experimental research pertaining to

occupational and environmental sources of exposure to

respirable crystalline silica, solvents and

pesticides, and two 'lifestyle' factors (smoking and

hair dye use). As has been seen with other systemic

autoimmune diseases (eg, systemic sclerosis and

rheumatoid arthritis), a series of epidemiologic

studies, using different designs in different

settings, have demonstrated relatively strong and

consistent associations between occupational silica

exposure and SLE. The type and quality of exposure

assessment is an important consideration in evaluating

these studies. Recent experimental studies examined

the effect of trichloroethylene exposure in MRL/ mice,

but to date there have been few epidemiologic studies

of solvents and SLE. There are numerous avenues with

respect to environmental factors in SLE that need

additional research.