The purpose of this study was to evaluate serum leptin levels in systemic lupus erythematosus (SLE). Forty-one women with SLE were compared with 23 healthy women of similar age and body mass index (BMI). Clinical characteristics and Mexican systemic lupus erythematosus disease activity index (Mex-SLEDAI) score were assessed. Serum leptin levels (ng/dl) were measured by enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay (ELISA). Comparisons of leptin levels were made with the Mann-Whitney U-test. In a multiple regression analysis, those factors that could influence the leptin levels were adjusted. Patients with SLE had higher leptin levels than the control group (SLE median 31 vs control median 15, P=0.023). After adjusting by other variables, the serum leptin levels remained higher in SLE than in controls (P=0.02). Patients with SLE had no association between leptin levels and Mex-SLEDAI score, age, duration of disease, or prednisone doses. Those with SLE had higher leptin levels than controls. Further longitudinal studies are required to evaluate the role of this hormone in the exacerbations of SLE.

Objective. As part of a larger, worldwide study of the ethnogeography of myositis, we evaluated the clinical, serologic, and immunogenetic features of Mestizo (Mexican and Guatemalan) and North American Caucasian patients with idiopathic inflammatory myopathy (IIM).Methods. Clinical manifestations, autoantibodies, HLA-DRB1 and DQA1 alleles, and immunoglobulin Gm/Km allotypes were compared between 138 Mestizos with IIM and 287 Caucasians with IIM, using the same classification criteria and standardized questionnaires.Results. IIM in Mestizo patients was characterized by a higher proportion of dermatomyositis (69% of adult Mestizos versus 35% of adult Caucasians; P < 0.001) and anti-Mi-2 autoantibodies (30% versus 7% of adults, respectively, and 32% versus 4% of children, respectively; P < 0.01). Genetic risk factors also differed in these populations. Whereas Mestizos had no HLA risk factors for IIM, HLA-DRB1*0301, the linked allele DQA1*0501, and DRB1 alleles sharing the first hypervariable region motif 9 EYSTS 13 were major risk factors in Caucasian patients with IIM. Furthermore, different HLA-DRB1 and DQA1 alleles were associated with anti-Mi-2 autoantibodies (DRB1*04 and DQA1*03 in Mestizos and DRB1*07 and DQA1*02 in Caucasians). Immunoglobulin ␥-chain allotypes Gm(1), Gm(17) (odds ratio for both 11.3, P ‫؍‬ 0.008), and Gm(21) (odds ratio 7.3, P ‫؍‬ 0.005) and -chain allotype Km(3) (odds ratio 7.3, P ‫؍‬ 0.005) were risk factors for IIM in Mestizos; however, no Gm or Km allotypes were risk or protective factors in Caucasians. In addition, Gm and Km phenotypes were unique risk factors (Gm 1,3,17 5,13,21 and Gm 1,17 23 21 and Km 3,3) or protective factors (Km 1,1) for the development of myositis and

IntroductionAutoantibodies and clinical manifestations in polymyositis/dermatomyositis (PM/DM) are affected by both genetic and environmental factors. The high prevalence of DM and anti-Mi-2 in Central America is thought to be associated with the high UV index of the area. The prevalences of autoantibodies and the clinical manifestations of PM/DM were evaluated comparing two cohorts in Mexico.MethodsNinety-five Mexican patients with PM/DM (66 DM, 29 PM; 67 Mexico City, 28 Guadalajara) were studied. Autoantibodies were characterized by immunoprecipitation using 35S-methionine labeled K562 cell extract. Clinical information was obtained from medical records.ResultsDM represented 69% of PM/DM and anti-Mi-2 was the most common autoantibody (35%), followed by anti-p155/140 (11%); however, anti-Jo-1 was only 4%. The autoantibody profile in adult-onset DM in Mexico City versus Guadalajara showed striking differences: anti-Mi-2 was 59% versus 12% (P = 0.0012) whereas anti-p155/140 was 9% versus 35% (P = 0.02), respectively. A strong association of anti-Mi-2 with DM was confirmed and when clinical features of anti-Mi-2 (+) DM (n = 30) versus anti-Mi-2 (-) DM (n = 36) were compared, the shawl sign (86% versus 64%, P < 0.05) was more common in the anti-Mi-2 (+) group (P = 0.0001). Levels of creatine phosphokinase (CPK) were higher in those who were anti-Mi-2 (+) but they responded well to therapy.ConclusionsAnti-Mi-2 has a high prevalence in Mexican DM and is associated with the shawl sign and high CPK. The prevalence of anti-Mi-2 and anti-p155/140 was significantly different in Mexico City versus Guadalajara, which have a similar UV index. This suggests roles of factors other than UV in anti-Mi-2 antibody production.

The aim of this study was to compare the efficacy of intravenous cyclophosphamide (IVCYC) versus oral enalapril in mild or moderate pulmonary hypertension (PH) in systemic lupus erythematosus (SLE). Thirty-four patients with SLE who had systolic pulmonary artery pressure (SPAP) > 30 mmHg by Doppler echocardiography were randomized to receive IVCYC (0.5 g/mt2 body surface area, monthly), or oral enalapril (10 mg/day) for six months. The primary outcome was the significant decrease in SPAP. An additional outcome measure included the improvement in the heart functional class (NYHA). Sixteen patients received cyclophosphamide and 18 enalapril. IVCYC decreased the median values of SPAP from 41 to 28 mmHg (P < 0.001), and enalapril from 35 to 27 mmHg (P = 0.02). IVCYC reduced more than twice as much SPAP than enalapril (P = 0.04). In those patients with SPAP > or = 35 mmHg, cyclophosphamide decreased from 43 to 27 mmHg (P = 0.003), but enalapril was not effective (P = 0.14). The NYHA functional class improved only in those with cyclophosphamide (P = 0.021). Also IVCYC had a higher frequency of side effects including infections (RR = 1.6; 95% CI, 1.001-2.47), and gastrointestinal side effects (RR = 14.6; 95% CI, 2.15-99.68). We concluded that IVCYC was effective in mild and moderate PH associated with SLE. Further research is needed to evaluate its long-term efficacy.

Objective. To evaluate whether serum titers of second-generation anticyclic citrullinated peptide antibodies (anti-CCP2) are associated with the severity and extent of interstitial lung disease in rheumatoid arthritis (RA-ILD). Methods. In across-sectional study, 39 RA-ILD patients confirmed by high-resolution computed tomography (HRCT) were compared with 42 RA without lung involvement (RA only). Characteristics related to RA-ILD were assessed in all of the patients and serum anti-CCP2 titers quantified. Results. Higher anti-CCP2 titers were found in RA-ILD compared with RA only (medians 77.9 versus 30.2 U/mL, P < 0.001). In the logistic regression analysis after adjustment for age, disease duration (DD), smoke exposure, disease activity, functioning, erythrocyte sedimentation rate, and methotrexate (MTX) treatment duration, the characteristics associated with RA-ILD were higher anti-CCP2 titers (P = 0.003) and + RF (P = 0.002). In multivariate linear regression, the variables associated with severity of ground-glass score were anti-CCP2 titers (P = 0.02) and with fibrosis score DD (P = 0.01), anti-CCP2 titers (P < 0.001), and MTX treatment duration (P < 0.001). Conclusions. Anti-CCP2 antibodies are markers of severity and extent of RA-ILD in HRCT. Further longitudinal studies are required to identify if higher anti-CCP2 titers are associated with worst prognosis in RA-ILD.