Although autoimmune thyroid diseases have been associated with systemic lupus erythematosus (SLE), the prevalence of thyroid disorder is controversial. To clarify the prevalence of thyroid disorder in Korean patients with SLE, thyroid functions and diseases were evaluated in 63 SLE patients. Of these patients, Hashimoto's thyroiditis (9.5%) as well as euthyroid sick syndrome (14.3%) were more common than Graves' disease (4.8%). The prevalence of antithyroid autoantibodies (antimicrosomal and/or antithyroglobulin autoantibodies) in SLE was 27.0%. High titers of these autoantibodies were mainly detected in Hashimoto's thyroiditis. These results suggested that thyroid diseases are not uncommon in SLE and autoimmune thyroid diseases are possible manifestations in some patients with SLE. Antithyroid autoantibodies may be good predictors for the detection of Hashimoto's thyroiditis developing in SLE.

PurposeTo identify the risk factors for, and clinical features and treatment outcomes of aggressive posterior retinopathy of prematurity (APROP) in Korean infants.MethodsAmong 770 premature infants who underwent screening, 105 infants (198 eyes, 13.63%) received treatment for ROP. A total of 24 infants (48 eyes, 3.12%) developed APROP while 81 infants (150 eyes, 10.52%) developed non-APROP treatment-requiring type. The medical records of ROP-treated infants were reviewed retrospectively. The associated systemic and maternal risk factors were analyzed and anatomical outcomes were compared according to the severity of ROP and treatment modalities.ResultsThe mean gestational age and birth weight at birth in the APROP group were significantly lower than those in the non-APROP group (P=0.019, P<0.001, respectively). Infants who were born small for their GA developed APROP more frequently than non-APROP patients (P<0.001). Chorioamnionitis-positive infants also showed higher incidence rate of APROP (APROP vs non-APROP; P<0.001 and zone I APROP vs posterior zone II APROP; P=0.036, respectively). Infants with APROP required heavier laser treatment with a higher retreatment rate compared to infants with non-APROP. Favorable anatomical outcomes were achieved in 95.3% from treatment-requiring non-APROP group, 85.7% from zone I APROP and 84.6% from posterior zone II APROP group.ConclusionIntrauterine growth restriction and chorioamnionitis were associated with development of APROP. These findings suggest that perinatal maternal environment inhibiting normal retinal vascular growth in utero may contribute to increasing the risk of APROP in premature infants.

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Objective: To evaluate impact of age, gender, race and BMI on NSAID efficacy in OA. Methods: Pfizer Clinical Trials Registry was searched for studies meeting the following criteria: randomized parallel-group design; Ն1 treatment group receiving celecoxib Ն200 mg daily; Ն1 placebo, NSAID, or rofecoxib comparator group; planned duration of Ն6 weeks; study completed and report finalized by October 31, 2004; 1 primary OA efficacy end point and pain visual analog scale (VAS) of 100 mm collected. In analyzing efficacy, we used the minimal clinically important difference (MCID), which proposes that patients are unable to detect a small difference in efficacy. For MCID a change of Ն10 mm on the VAS from baseline to last observation was used to define responders. Percent responders and differences in responder rates were calculated for placebo and NSAIDs combined for age, gender, BMI, and race. For each treatment, responder rates were compared statistically for categorical data (gender and race) using a test of incidence rates within each treatment category, and CMH for overall association. For continuous variables (BMI and age), inference was calculated on the slope of the regression of VAS change on predictor variables. No adjustments in the nominal alpha level were made for the multiple analyses. Results: Fifteen studies were included: 21,798 OA patients received celecoxib (61%), diclofenac (19%), naproxen (10%), ibuprofen (1%), rofecoxib (2%), or placebo (8%). The majority of patients were female (73%) and Caucasian (78%). Median (range) for age and BMI were: 63 years (18 -96) and 29 (11-149), respectively. NSAID response was influenced significantly by age (P ϭ 0.0099), BMI (P ϭ 0.0002), gender and race (P Յ 0.0001); placebo response was influenced by age (P ϭ 0.0002) and race (P Յ 0.0001). Differential response between NSAIDs and placebo was significantly influenced by all variables (P Յ 0.0001). Conclusions: Age, gender, BMI, and race are important predictors of NSAID response, while only age and race influence placebo response. Predictors of the highest benefits of pain reduction with NSAIDs versus placebo are: older age, female sex, being overweight, and Caucasian race.