Objectives. Few reports of lupus nephritis (LN) from Jordan and the Middle East exist. This study assessed the demographic, clinical, and basic laboratory characteristics of Jordanian patients with LN and correlations with the histological class of LN. Methods. This was a retrospective study of all patients who underwent kidney biopsy between 2007 and 2018 at a tertiary medical center in Jordan. Patients’ demographic, clinical, laboratory, and pathological data were reviewed. Results. In total, 79 patients were included in this study [mean age, 29.95 ± 12.16 years; 11 men (13.9%), 68 women (86.1%)]. Asymptomatic proteinuria and hematuria were the most common presentations in LN patients at biopsy (59.5%). The study revealed a significant difference in frequency of nephritic syndrome (p= 0.01) between sexes (10.3% female vs. 45.5% male). Class IV was the most common pathological class of LN [37 (46.8%)], followed by class V [15 (19%)] and class III [10 (12.7%)]. Post hoc analysis of the associations between laboratory values and histopathological patterns revealed a significant correlation between class IV lupus and renal failure (p= 0.018) and class IV lupus and anti-DNA antibodies p= 0.030). End-stage renal disease (ESRD) occurred in 25% of lupus nephritis cases. There was an increased likelihood of ESRD among men than women (45% vs. 22%). Overall mortality was 10%. Conclusion. Although some clinical and laboratory findings correlate with histological types of LN, clinical and laboratory parameters of Jordanian patients with LN are not predictive of the histological type, although differences with regional studies were noted.

Background: This study sought to determine the prevalence of carotid artery calcifications (CACs) and pulp stones detected on panoramic radiographs (PRs) and ascertain their correlation. Methods: A total of 2013 digital PRs were retrospectively retrieved and thoroughly examined to determine the prevalence of CACs and pulp stones, their correlation with patient age and gender, and the relationship between the presence of pulps stones and radiographically detectable CACs. Results: The prevalence of CACs on PRs was 2.0%; the prevalence of pulp stones was 4.6%. There was no statistical relationship between pulp stones and CACs (p = 0.714). Older patients exhibited a significantly higher prevalence of CACs than younger patients (p < 0.001); pulp stones were statistically more prevalent in younger patients than older patients (p = 0.001). There were no significant differences between male and females in terms of the prevalence of either CACs or pulp stones (p = 0.087 and p = 0.278, respectively). Conclusions: Dentists should be trained to detect CACs on PRs belonging to patients older than 40 to exclude the presence of CACs. Moreover, pulp stones do not function as a diagnostic marker for CACs.

Aim To determine the prevalence and frequency of different pathological patterns of glomerulonephritis (GN) in adolescent (age ≥ 11 years) and adult Jordanian patients. Materials and Methods A retrospective analysis of all clinical and pathological reports of Jordanian patients who had native renal biopsies at the University of Jordan hospital between January 2007 and March 2018 to assess the prevalence and pathological pattern of GN. The data were analyzed statistically using descriptive statistics, the chi-squared test, and Fisher's exact tests. The level of significance was set at P < 0.05. Results Two hundred and nine patients (88 males and 121 females) had native kidney biopsies diagnosed as having GN; the mean age at the time of biopsy was 36.0 ± 14.9 years. Primary GN (51.2%) was more common than secondary GN (48.8%). The most common GN was lupus nephritis (LN) (33.5%), followed by membranous nephropathy (MGN) (15.3%), and diabetic nephropathy (DN) (11.0%). Furthermore, IgA nephropathy was noted in 8.1% of cases. LN was the most common among the secondary GN and occurred in 49.6% of females; MGN was the most common primary GN and occurred in 22.7% of males. There was a statistically significant difference between males and females in the prevalence of LN and MGN (P < .001 and P = .011, respectively). LN was also dominant in all age groups expect for the ≥60 years group, which tended to exhibit DN (40%). Conclusion LN is the most common GN type in Jordan, followed by MGN and DN. MGN is the predominant primary GN with a higher prevalence among males; LN is the predominant secondary GN and tends to occur in Jordanian females. The GN patterns in this study shifted from membranoproliferative GN to MGN in Jordan, which revealed a shift towards similar patterns exhibited in developed countries. Furthermore, DN is the most frequent GN in the elderly.

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Background: Lower respiratory tract infections (LRTIs) are a major cause of morbidity and mortality globally. The World Health Organization (WHO) estimates that LRTIs are the most common global cause of death from infectious diseases. However, the specific etiologic agent associated with LRTI is often unknown. We determined the bacterial infections and seasonal patterns associated with LRTIs among hospitalized cases at Jordan University Hospital (JUH) for a period of five years. Methods:We conducted a retrospective multi-year study among hospitalized patients in Jordan on LRTI-associated bacterial etiology. Results:We found bacterial infections among 105 (21.1%) out of 495 LRTI patients. The most frequently identified bacteria in the LRTI patients were Staphylococcus aureus (7.7%) followed by Pseudomonas aeruginosa (5.1%). Most of the LRTI patients (95.2%) had at least one chronic disease and many were admitted to the Intensive Care Unit (16.8%). Of the 18(3.64%) patients with LRTIs who died at the hospital, 2 had a bacterial infection. We noticed a seasonal pattern of bacterial infections, with the highest prevalence during the winter months. Conclusions:Our findings suggest that early identification of bacterial agents and control of chronic disease may improve clinical management and reduce morbidity and mortality from LRTIs.

Objective This study examined health-related quality of life (HRQoL) and factors associated with poor HRQoL among hemodialysis (HD) patients. Methods A multicenter cross-sectional study was conducted on HD patients with anemia in Jordan (n = 168). Validated questionnaires were utilized to collect data on HRQoL using EQ-5D-5L, psychiatric symptoms using Hospital Anxiety and Depression Scale (HADS), and comorbidities score using the modified Charlson Comorbidity Index (mCCI). Multiple linear regression analysis was conducted to identify the variables which are independently associated with HRQoL among patients. Results The mean (± SD) age of study participants was 52.2 (± 14.6) years. The mean utility value of EQ-5D-5L was 0.44 (± 0.42). Participants reported extreme problems mostly in pain/discomfort domain (19.6%). Increased age, increased mCCI and patient complains, more years under dialysis, decreased exercise, and low family income were significantly associated with poor HRQoL (p < 0.05). Conclusion The study findings revealed poor HRQoL among HD patients with anemia. Various dimensions of health were negatively affected among HD patients. Development and implementation of appropriate approaches with adequate education and psychosocial support to HD patients by healthcare professionals targeting improved HRQoL and clinical outcomes would be necessary.

Systemic lupus erythematosus (SLE) and ANCA-associated vasculitis (AAV) are different autoimmune diseases. While vasculitis can be seen in the SLE clinical course as a secondary phenomenon, and may indicate a severe disease, primary vasculitis such as AAV rarely occurs in association with SLE. We present a 44-year-old woman who presented with rapidly progressive glomerulonephritis which was histologically identified as a combination of crescentic and lupus nephritis in the presence of myeloperoxidase ANCA antibody. The frequency of this association is very rare. The clinical, histological and immunological features are different in SLE/AAV overlap syndrome and need different treatment options, which may include rituximab, to achieve complete recovery. Since SLE/AAV overlap can be serious at presentation, the physician must be aware of this syndrome.