Objective:To determine adherence to methotrexate (MTX) therapy in patients with Rheumatoid Arthritis (RA) and to identify factors that promote either adherence or non adherence.Methods:One hundred Rheumatoid Arthritis patients on MTX for at least two months were enrolled. Questionnaire was completed by direct interview. Details recorded were, demographics (age, sex, education, monthly income), disease duration, duration on MTX and current dose. Disease Activity Score on 28 joint counts (DAS 28) at the current visit, concomitant drugs taken and number of doses of MTX missed in the previous 8 weeks were noted. Non adherence was defined as omission of any three or more prescribed doses of MTX in previous 8 week. Patients were asked for the factors that motivated their adherence to MTX as well as factors for non adherence. Presence of side effects due to MTX was also recorded.Result:Non adherence was found among 23% of cases. Patients of low socioeconomic group (p <0.0001) and on MTX for longer duration (p <0.001) had higher non adherence. Non adherent patients had significantly higher disease activity as measured by DAS 28 (p<0.001). Good counseling and education by the doctor was a strong predictor of adherence (p <0.001). Lack of affordability (p <0.001); lack of availability at local pharmacy (p <0.001); lack of family support (p <0.001) and lack of awareness regarding need and importance of MTX (p < 0.001were found as significant factors for non adherence.Conclusion:MTX non adherence in RA is noted in about one fourth of study group. Various economical and social issues lead to non adherence but good patient education and counseling by doctor could promote adherence in this study group.

Objective:To determine the frequency of cognitive dysfunction in patients with Systemic Lupus Erythematosus in a Pakistani population, presenting at a tertiary care Rheumatology setting.Methods:This cross-sectional study was conducted at the Division of Rheumatology, Fatima Memorial Hospital, Lahore, from March to June 2016. A total of 43 consecutive patients, who fulfilled the 2012 SLICC (Systemic Lupus International Collaborating Clinics) classification criteria for Systemic Lupus Erythematosus (SLE), were enrolled. Cognitive function was assessed using Montréal Cognitive Assessment (MoCA) questionnaire. Demographic data and disease dynamics were collected in a proforma. Cognitive dysfunction was defined as score < 26/30, adjusted for duration of formal education. SPSS version 16.0 for windows was used to analyse data and to calculate frequency of cognitive dysfunction.Results:Out of 43 enrolled patients, 95.3% were females and 4.7% were males, with mean age of 28.72 ± 9.25 years and mean formal education duration of 10.98 ± 3.29 years. The mean disease duration was 24.21 ± 30.46 months. Anti-nuclear antibodies (ANA) were present in all patients and anti-ds DNA in 93% patients. Cognitive dysfunction according to MoCA score was found in 65.1% (n=28) patients. For patients with disease duration more than two years, cognitive dysfunction was found in 60% patients [p>0.05] and for duration of formal education less than 12 years in 74.1% patients [p>0.05].Conclusion:In this study, two third of SLE patients had Cognitive dysfunction. Hence, there is an increasing need to recognise and initiate early therapy for this overlooked aspect of SLE with an aim to achieve better quality of life.

Objective:To determine the pattern of initial clinical manifestations of Systemic Lupus Erythematosus (SLE) and to compare these features with those recorded elsewhere in PakistanMethods:This cross-sectional, descriptive study was performed in the Department of Rheumatology, Fatima Memorial Hospital, Lahore, Pakistan, from November 2015 to January 2016. Sixty one patients of SLE diagnosed as per ACR (American College of Rheumatology) 1982 revised criteria, were enrolled. The patients were evaluated for the initial clinical manifestations of SLE. The information was collected on a specially designed proforma and analyzed by using SPSS version 17.Results:Out of 61 patients, 49 (80.3%) were females and 12 (19.7%) males, showing a female to male ratio of 4:1. The mean age of patients was 26.2 ± 7.9 years. Fatigue was the most common presenting feature in 56 (91.8%) patients, followed by joint pains in 55 (90.2%) and fever in 54 (88.5%). Renal involvement was found in 46 (75.4%). Comparison of these presenting features was made with other studies carried out in Northern Pakistan (Islamabad) and in central Punjab (Pakistan). There were statistically significant differences in fever, fatigue and arthritis between our patients and the other two above mentioned study groups. However, comparison of renal manifestations showed significant difference only with Islamabad study, and not with previous study from central Punjab.Conclusion:In this study, majority of patients presented with combination of fatigue, fever, rash and arthritis. Almost three-fourth of patients had renal manifestations at initial presentation. Therefore, it is important for clinicians to have high index of suspicion for SLE, when patients present with above symptoms.

Objective:To determine the frequency of dyslipidemia in patients with lupus nephritis and its association with the degree of proteinuria.Methods:This cross-sectional analytic study included 65 patients who fulfilled the ACR (American College of Rheumatology) criteria for SLE and had renal involvement, presenting to the Division of Rheumatology, Fatima Memorial Hospital (FMH), and Lahore from 21st Sep 2016 to 20th Dec 2016. After 12 hours overnight fast their blood samples were assessed for total cholesterol (TC), triglycerides (TG), high density lipoprotein (HDL) and low density lipoprotein (LDL). Patient demographic variables (age, sex) and disease characteristics (disease duration, degree of proteinuria, steroid dose) were noted. Patients were categorized into two groups on the basis of degree of proteinuria: having proteinuria >1gm or ≤ 1gm. Data was analyzed using SPSS version 22. Individual lipid profiles were correlated with the degree of proteinuria.Results:Most common lipid abnormality found in our study was hypertriglyceridemia (58.5%). Total Cholesterol and LDL-C was high in 55.4% and 30.8% subjects respectively. Low HDL was found in 21.5% subjects. Increased frequency of dyslipidemia was noticed in those subjects who had proteinuria >1gm (P value < 0.05).Conclusion:Dyslipidemia was observed in a high frequency in patients with lupus nephritis and was strongly associated with their degree of proteinuria.

Aims To determine the prevalence of inflammatory back pain (IBP) and radiographic axial spondyloarthritis (SpA) in a semi‐urban community of Lahore, Pakistan. Methods This cross‐sectional household survey was designed as per the Community Oriented Program for the Control of Rheumatic Diseases (COPCORD) model. In Phase 1, the subjects were interviewed for musculoskeletal (MSK) pain in the last 7 days by clinical assistants. In Phase 2, physiotherapists identified subjects with spinal/back pain and interviewed for Assessment in Spondyloarthritis International Working Group (ASAS) criteria for IBP. In Phase 3 subjects having IBP or chronic back pain (CBP) with an age at onset ≤45 years, were assessed and further investigated. Results A total of 4922 subjects with a mean age of 35.3 ± 14.5 years, including 2770 (56%) women were surveyed in Phase 1. MSK pain in last 7 days was reported by 1407 (28.6%) of whom 1034 (21%) had spinal pain. The ASAS criteria for IBP were met in 329 (6.7%, 95% CI 6.0‐7.0). In Phase 3, 222 with IBP and 83 having CBP with age at onset ≤45 years were evaluated. Out of this total of 305, 144 (2.9%) were confirmed to have IBP by rheumatologists as per at least 1 of the 3 criteria. ASAS criteria were met in 107 (2.2%, 95% CI 1.8‐2.6). ASAS criteria for radiographic axial SpA were met in 47 (1%, 95% CI 0.7‐1.3) of the surveyed population. Conclusion Inflammatory back pain was reported in 6.7% by physiotherapists, confirmed in 3% by rheumatologists. The prevalence of radiographic axial SpA was 1%.