Risk of severe herpes simplex virus infection in systemic lupus erythematosus: analysis of epidemiology and risk factors analysis in Taiwan.

Patients with SLE are at higher risk of severe HSV infection, and related risk factors include being older than 18 years, having a history of HSV mucocutaneous infection, recent receipt of steroid pulse therapy and a daily oral dose of steroid over 7.5 mg prednisolone.