Objectives
This study was conducted to assess the utility of neutrophil‐to‐lymphocyte ratio (NLR) and platelet‐to‐lymphocyte ratio (PLR) in predicting radiographic sacroiliitis and active disease in axial spondyloarthritis (SpA) and to explore the association between use of a tumor necrosis factor inhibitor (TNFi) and these laboratory values compared with traditional inflammatory markers.
Methods
Observational data from the Program to Understand the Longterm Outcomes in Spondyloarthritis (PULSAR) registry were analyzed. We generated receiver operating characteristic curves to calculate laboratory cutoff values; we used these values in multivariable logistic regression models to identify associations with radiographically confirmed sacroiliitis and active disease. We also used logistic regression to determine the likelihood of elevated laboratory values after initiation of TNFi.
Results
Most study participants (n = 354) were White, male, and HLA–B27 positive. NLR (odds ratio [OR] 1.459, P = 0.034), PLR (OR 4.842, P < 0.001), erythrocyte sedimentation rate (OR 4.397, P < 0.001), and C‐reactive protein (CRP) level (OR 2.911, P = 0.001) were independent predictors of radiographic sacroiliitis. Models that included PLR with traditional biomarkers performed better than those with traditional biomarkers alone. NLR (OR 6.931, P = 0.002) and CRP (OR 2.678, P = 0.004) were predictors of active disease, but the model that included both NLR and CRP performed better than CRP alone. TNFi use reduced the odds of elevated NLR (OR 0.172, P < 0.001), PLR (OR 0.073, P < 0.001), erythrocyte sedimentation rate (OR 0.319, P < 0.001), and CRP (OR 0.407, P < 0.001), but models that included NLR or PLR and traditional biomarkers performed best.
Conclusions
These findings demonstrate an association between NLR and PLR and sacroiliitis and disease activity, with NLR and PLR showing response after TNFi treatment and adding useful clinical information to established biomarkers, thus perhaps assisting in management of axial SpA.
Background. Hydroxychloroquine is an effective and widely used treatment in multiple autoimmune connective tissue diseases that gained a lot of publicity in the coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19) pandemic. Our case reports are unique in that they explore the rare and sometimes overlooked effects of this drug on multiple organ systems, specifically the kidney, cardiac muscle, and skeletal muscle. We include key histologic features in images which aid in identifying and distinguishing hydroxychloroquine toxicity from mimickers. Lastly, we report the very interesting similarity in the intracellular action of hydroxychloroquine to the pathology of Fabry disease (and its associated lysosomal enzyme, α-galactosidase A). Case Presentation. We will examine the case presentations of three female Caucasian patients: a 22-year-old with lupus nephritis class V, a 72-year-old with long-standing systemic lupus erythematosus, and a 74-year-old with undifferentiated connective tissue disease. All three patients were on hydroxychloroquine therapy for varying amounts of time with histologic evidence of hydroxychloroquine toxicity that is three is present in histological samples of the kidney, the heart, and the skeletal muscle. Conclusions. Hydroxychloroquine is a very important and beneficial medication used for various autoimmune connective tissue diseases. Clinicians should be aware of the rare but sometimes serious side effects that can result from the medication, which at times can mimic manifestations of the connective tissue disease itself or Fabry disease. A thorough investigation should be performed in these cases to properly elucidate the cause followed by the appropriate targeted therapy.
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