Systemic lupus erythematosus (SLE) is a chronic, multisystemic autoimmune disease that occurs predominantly in women of fertile age. The association of SLE and pregnancy, mainly with active disease and especially with nephritis, has poorer pregnancy outcomes, with increased frequency of preeclampsia, fetal loss, prematurity, growth restriction, and newborns small for gestational age. Therefore, SLE pregnancies are considered high risk condition, should be monitored frequently during pregnancy and delivery should occur in a controlled setting. Pregnancy induces dramatic immune and neuroendocrine changes in the maternal body in order to protect the fetus from immunologic attack and these modifications can be affected by SLE. The risk of flares depends on the level of maternal disease activity in the 6–12 months before conception and is higher in women with repeated flares before conception, in those who discontinue useful medications and in women with active glomerulonephritis at conception. It is a challenge to differentiate lupus nephritis from preeclampsia and, in this context, the angiogenic and antiangiogenic cytokines are promising. Prenatal care of pregnant patients with SLE requires close collaboration between rheumatologist and obstetrician. Planning pregnancy is essential to increase the probability of successful pregnancies.
The objective of this study was to assess the effects of rituximab on bone mineral density (BMD) in women with systemic lupus erythematosus (SLE) 1 year after treatment. Thirty active female SLE patients treated with rituximab were compared with 43 SLE women not treated with rituximab. BMD was measured using dual energy X-ray absorptiometry (DEXA) before initiating biologic therapy and after 1 year. The mean age was 38.5 ± 2.1 years; median disease duration was 7 years. In the rituximab group, after 1 year of follow-up, BMD at the femoral neck (FN) decreased from 0.980 ± 0.130 g/cm(2) to 0.809 ± 0.139 g/cm(2) (-17.4%; p=0.001). Similarly, BMD at the lumbar spine (LS) decreased from 1.062 ± 0.137 g/cm(2) to 0.893 ± 0.194 g/cm(2) (-15.8%; p=0.001). In control subjects, BMD at the FN decreased from 0.914 ± 0.193 g/cm(2) to 0.890 ± 0.135 g/cm(2) (-2.6%; p=0.001), and BMD at the LS decreased from 0.926 ± 0.128 g/cm(2) to 0.867 ± 0.139 g/cm(2) (-6.2%; p=0.09). After 1 year, SLE patients had lower BMD at both the FN and LS, but the loss was greater in postmenopausal patients who had received rituximab therapy.
IBS-type symptoms are highly prevalent among women with SLE and are associated with FM and depression. SLE+IBS patients had worse HRQOL vs Non-IBS SLE, independently of FM status. We suggest that treating IBS symptoms may improve HRQOL in women with SLE.
To determine the prevalence of and associated factors to work instability (WI) in rheumatoid arthritis (RA) Argentinean patients. Observational cross-sectional study that assessing employment status in currently working RA patients. They answered the validated version of RA work instability scale (RA-WIS). High-risk WI was considered when RA-WIS was ≥17. Factors associated with high-risk WI were examined by univariable and multivariable analysis. Four-hundred and fifty RA patients were enrolled; of these, 205 patients were currently employed, but only 172 have completed questionnaires required [RA-WIS and health assessment questionnaire (HAQ-A)]. Their mean age was 49.3 ± 10.8 years; 81.3 % were female; and their mean disease duration was 8.1 ± 7.2 years. Fifty-two percent of patients were doing manual work. The mean RA-WIS score was 11.4 ± 6.8, and 41 % of patients had a high-risk WI. High-risk WI was associated with radiographic erosions (p < 0.001) and HAQ-A >0.87 (p < 0.001) in the univariable analysis, whereas in the multivariable logistic regression analysis the variables associated with a high-risk WI were as follows: HAQ-A >0.87 [odds ratio (OR) 12.31; 95 % CI 5.38-28.18] and the presence of radiographic erosions (OR 4.848; 95 % CI 2.22-10.5). In this model, having a higher monthly income (OR 0.301; 95 % CI 0.096-0.943) and a better functional class (OR 0.151; 95 % CI 0.036-0.632) were protective. Forty-one percent of RA working patients had high-risk WI. The predictors of high RA-WIS were HAQ-A ≥0.87 and radiographic erosions, whereas having a better functional class and have higher incomes were protective.
Caracterización de la enfermedad celiaca en niños atendidos en hospitales públicos chilenosAbstract Introduction: The worldwide prevalence of celiac disease (CD) is ~1% of the population. In Chile, the National Health Survey 2009-2010 showed a serological prevalence in individuals older than 15 years of 0.76% (IgA-tTG2), which corresponded in Concepción to 0.6%. Objective: Determine clinical characteristics, search, diagnosis, treatment and follow-up of CD in the two public hospitals in Concepción that have a Gastroenterology Department. Patients and Method: Descriptive study. Data were collected from electronic medical records (CIE10 code) and medical records of patients younger than 18 years of age, assessed for CD during 2010 -2016 from two public hospitals in the city of Concepción, Chile. Cases whose diagnostic protocol met the ESPGHAN 2012 criteria (confirmation with intestinal biopsy), 207 out of 216 identified patients met the inclusion criteria. The nutritional status was classified according to age group (in children under five years old by WHO 2006 and in children between five and 18 years old by WHO 2007). The Z-score (Z) was calculated using the WHO Anthro software (in children under five years old) and WHO Anthro Plus software (in those between five and 18 years old). Antiendomysial antibodies were assessed by immunofluorescence test in cuts of the esophagus of mono, IgA and IgG anti-transglutaminase antibodies via ELISA, as well as serum IgA. Results: CD was confirmed by duodenal biopsies in 33.8% of the patients. IgA-tTG was identified in 70% and IgG-tTG in 52.9%, although only two patients had IgA deficiency. The main reasons for consultation were gastrointestinal (80%) and/or referral by an endocrinologist (45.7%). The main clinical presentation was gastrointestinal, with diarrhea (71.4%). 17.1% of the patients had Down syndrome (DS), 11.4% short stature, and 5.7% had type 1 diabetes mellitus. At diagnosis, the obesity:malnutrition ratio (Z-score BMI) was 2:1 and 6.8% of the patients were obese. One year after diagnosis, in 26 patients without DS, the frequency of eutrophic patients decreased from 65.4% to 42.3%, increasing overweight from 23.1% to 34.6% and obesity from 0 to 7.7%. Conclusions: In Concepción, endocrinologists conduct a significant and successful active search of CD, being responsible for 47.3% of the diagnoses. The high proportion of overweight/obese patients is consistent with the phenomenon currently described in Chile and other countries.
BackgroundCapillary bed of labial mucosa may be a potentially useful area for assessing abnormalities on the microcirculation. Videocapilaroscopy of the labial mucosa (LVC) in 12/13 scleroderma (SCL) patients showed capillaries disturbance such as great disorganization and anarchic orientation(1).ObjectivesTo describe LVC features in SCL and compare them with healthy controls. (HC). To compare nailfold videocapillaroscopy (NVC) with LVC in HC and SCL patients.Methods≥16 years old patients with SCL (ACR-EULAR 2013) were included consecutively since June to July 2016. Smoking patients were excluded. For the evaluation of the LVC we performed a general displaying and then we studied following areas: a-central (1 cm from the frenulum), b-lateral right and left (both 2 cm from the frenulum) and c-labial border. For evaluation of the NVC, 200x images were obtained from 2nd to 4th fingers both hands and was classified according Cutolo in early, active, late patterns(2). For assesment through LVC: photographs (200x) for each subject were taken. We define quantitative characteristics as means of: capillary diameter, length and density. The average of these parameters was obtained from the evaluation of capillaries included in 1 mm2 of at least 2 continuous images. In addition, the visibility of the subpapillary venous plexus, architecture, dilatation of capillaries, presence of megacapillaries and avascular areas were qualitatively evaluated (photo 1). Each image was reviewed by two experienced observers. We conducted the same process describe above for each healthy control subject.ResultsTwenty two patients were included (18 female, age 47±11 ys) with SCL (limited 17, diffuse 5); NVC pattern: early 8, active 11, late 3. Healthy subjects 12 (11 female, age: 34±10 years).Average capillary density: 17±4.13 (13–26) in SCL vs 21±3.65 (16–28) in HC (p 0.00).Average capillary diameter: 43±13.54 (17–83) SCL vs 19±1.67 μm (16–21) HC (p 0.02).Mean capillary length: 185±34 μm (125–248) SCL vs 237±42 μm (178–313) HC (p 0.00).In 22 SCL patients were observed dilated capillaries in 20 (90%), megacapillaries (≥70 μm) in 10 (45%) and 7 (32%) showed disturbed architecture with lost areas of the normal U-shape and changes in the parallelism of the main axis of the capillaries. About subpapillary venous plexus in SCL: 7 (32%) were prominent and only one had capillary hemorrhage. In contrast, none of the controls presented these alterations. (p 0.0).According to the 3 NVC patterns the following averages were observed in the LVC: Early Pattern (n: 8): diameter 36.93±10.84 μm; Long 191.21±47.58 μm; Density 18.12±5.33 μm. Active Pattern (n: 11): diameter 48.80±14.80 μm; Length 184.11±29.91 μm; Density 16.72±3.25 μm. Late Pattern (n: 3): diameter 36.27±10; Long 178.03±28.8 μm, density 19.33±4.16 μm.ConclusionsWe found that LVC in SCL patients show significant microvascular changes with respect to HC. In addition, all NVC patterns described in SCL showed similar alterations in LVC. Therefore, LVC could be a complementary or alternative method to ...
scite is a Brooklyn-based organization that helps researchers better discover and understand research articles through Smart Citations–citations that display the context of the citation and describe whether the article provides supporting or contrasting evidence. scite is used by students and researchers from around the world and is funded in part by the National Science Foundation and the National Institute on Drug Abuse of the National Institutes of Health.
hi@scite.ai
10624 S. Eastern Ave., Ste. A-614
Henderson, NV 89052, USA
Copyright © 2024 scite LLC. All rights reserved.
Made with 💙 for researchers
Part of the Research Solutions Family.