The number of flares patients experience impacts on damage accrual in systemic lupus erythematosus: data from a multiethnic Latin American cohort

PurposeTo determine the association between the number of flares systemic lupus erythematosus (SLE) patients experience and damage accrual, independently of other known risk factors.MethodsSLE patients (34 centres, nine Latin American countries) with a recent diagnosis (≤2 years) and ≥3 evaluations were studied. Disease activity was ascertained with the Systemic Lupus Erythematosus Disease Activity Index (SLEDAI) and damage with the SLICC/ACR Damage Index (SDI). Flare was defined as an increase ≥4 points in the SLEDAI between two study visits. An ambidirectional case- crossover design was used to determine the association between the number of flares and damage accrual.Results901 patients were eligible for the study; 500 of them (55.5%) experienced at least one flare, being the mean number of flares 0.9 (SD: 1.0). 574 intervals from 251 patients were included in the case-crossover design since they have case and control intervals, whereas, the remaining patients did not. Their mean age at diagnosis was 27.9 years (SD: 11.1), 213 (84.9%) were women. The mean baseline SDI and SLEDAI were 1.3 (1.3) and 13.6 (8.1), respectively. Other features were comparable to those of the entire sample. After adjusting for possible confounding variables, the number of flares, regardless of their severity, was associated with damage accrual (SDI) OR 2.05, 95% CI 1.43 to 2.94, p<0.001 (OR 2.62, 95% CI 1.31 to 5.24, p=0.006 for severe and OR 1.91, 95% CI 1.28 to 2.83, p=0.001for mild-moderate).ConclusionsThe number of flares patients experience, regardless of their severity, increases the risk of damage accrual, independently of other known risk factors.

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Predictors of renal damage in systemic lupus erythematous patients: data from a multiethnic, multinational Latin American lupus cohort (GLADEL)

RMD Open ◽

10.1136/rmdopen-2020-001299 ◽

2020 ◽

Vol 6 (3) ◽

pp. e001299

Author(s):

Cristina Reátegui-Sokolova ◽

Manuel F Ugarte-Gil ◽

Guillermina B Harvey ◽

Daniel Wojdyla ◽

Guillermo J Pons-Estel ◽

...

Keyword(s):

Risk Factors ◽

Systemic Lupus Erythematosus ◽

Latin American ◽

Lupus Erythematosus ◽

Renal Damage ◽

Cox Regression ◽

Damage Index ◽

Early Response ◽

Male Gender ◽

Systemic Lupus

AimA decrease in proteinuria has been considered protective from renal damage in lupus nephritis (LN), but a cut-off point has yet to be established. The aim of this study was to identify the predictors of renal damage in patients with LN and to determine the best cut-off point for a decrease in proteinuria.MethodsWe included patients with LN defined clinically or histologically. Possible predictors of renal damage at the time of LN diagnosis were examined: proteinuria, low complement, anti-double-stranded DNA antibodies, red cell casts, creatinine level, hypertension, renal activity (assessed by the Systemic Lupus Erythematosus Disease Activity Index (SLEDAI)), prednisone dose, immunosuppressive drugs and antimalarial use. Sociodemographic variables were included at baseline. Proteinuria was assessed at baseline and at 12 months, to determine if early response (proteinuria <0.8 g/day within 12 months since LN diagnosis) is protective of renal damage occurrence. Renal damage was defined as an increase of one or more points in the renal domain of The Systemic Lupus International Collaborating Clinics (SLICC)/American College of Rheumatology (ACR) Damage Index (SDI). Cox regression models using a backward selection method were performed.ResultsFive hundred and two patients with systemic lupus erythematosus patients were included; 120 patients (23.9%) accrued renal damage during their follow-up. Early response to treatment (HR=0.58), antimalarial use (HR=0.54) and a high SES (HR=0.25) were protective of renal damage occurrence, whereas male gender (HR=1.83), hypertension (HR=1.86) and the renal component of the SLEDAI (HR=2.02) were risk factors for its occurrence.ConclusionsEarly response, antimalarial use and high SES were protective of renal damage, while male gender, hypertension and higher renal activity were risk factors for its occurrence in patients with LN.

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The Relationships of High-Sensitivity C-Reactive Protein and Homocysteine Levels With Disease Activity, Damage Accrual, and Cardiovascular Risk in Systemic Lupus Erythematosus

Biological Research For Nursing ◽

10.1177/1099800419889192 ◽

2019 ◽

Vol 22 (2) ◽

pp. 169-177 ◽

Cited By ~ 1

Author(s):

Gabriela Pocovi-Gerardino ◽

Maria Correa-Rodríguez ◽

José-Luis Callejas Rubio ◽

Raquel Ríos Fernández ◽

María Martín Amada ◽

...

Keyword(s):

Risk Factors ◽

Systemic Lupus Erythematosus ◽

Disease Activity ◽

Lupus Erythematosus ◽

High Sensitivity ◽

Cvd Risk Factors ◽

Systemic Lupus ◽

Cvd Risk ◽

Damage Accrual ◽

Hs Crp

Chronic inflammation coupled with cardiovascular disease (CVD) risk factors influences the progression of atherosclerosis in systemic lupus erythematosus (SLE). High-sensitivity C-reactive protein (hs-CRP) and homocysteine (Hcy) are associated with the risk of CVD in the general population, but their associations with CV risk and disease activity in SLE are unclear. In this cross-sectional study ( N = 139 SLE patients, mean age = 45.27 ± 13.18 years), we investigated associations between hs-CRP and Hcy levels and disease activity, damage accrual, and CVD risk in SLE. Disease activity and damage accrual were measured with the SLE Activity Index 2000 (SLEDAI-2K), the Systemic Lupus Erythematosus International Collaborating Clinics Group/American College of Rheumatology damage index (SDI), and anti-double-stranded DNA antibodies (anti-dsDNA). CVD risk factors of obesity, diabetes mellitus, hypertension, blood lipids, and ankle–brachial index were collected. Linear regression analysis and one-way analysis of variance were used to analyze relationships of hs-CRP and Hcy with SLE activity, damage accrual, and CVD risk factors. Results: hs-CRP correlated significantly with SLEDAI-2K ( p = .036), SDI ( p = .00), anti-dsDNA titers ( p = .034), diabetes ( p = .005), and obesity ( p = .027). hs-CRP and Hcy correlated with triglyceride (TG) levels ( p = .032 and p < .001, respectively), TG/high-density lipoprotein cholesterol index ( p = .020 and p = .001, respectively), and atherogenic index of plasma ( p = .006 and p = .016, respectively). hs-CRP levels >3 mg/L correlated with SDI score ( p = .012) and several CVD risk factors. Discussion: Findings suggest SLE patients with elevated hs-CRP and/or Hcy have a higher prevalence of CVD risk factors.

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Correction to: Homocysteine levels are independently associated with damage accrual in systemic lupus erythematosus patients from a Latin-American cohort

Clinical Rheumatology ◽

10.1007/s10067-019-04558-6 ◽

2019 ◽

Vol 38 (6) ◽

pp. 1799-1799

Author(s):

Paola A. Zeña-Huancas ◽

Haydee Iparraguirre-López ◽

Rocío V. Gamboa-Cárdenas ◽

Cristina Reátegui-Sokolova ◽

Francisco Zevallos-Miranda ◽

...

Keyword(s):

Systemic Lupus Erythematosus ◽

Latin American ◽

Lupus Erythematosus ◽

Systemic Lupus ◽

Damage Accrual

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Factors predictive of serious infections over time in systemic lupus erythematosus patients: data from a multi-ethnic, multi-national, Latin American lupus cohort

Lupus ◽

10.1177/0961203319860579 ◽

2019 ◽

Vol 28 (9) ◽

pp. 1101-1110 ◽

Cited By ~ 14

Author(s):

V R Pimentel-Quiroz ◽

M F Ugarte-Gil ◽

GB Harvey ◽

D Wojdyla ◽

G J Pons-Estel ◽

...

Keyword(s):

Systemic Lupus Erythematosus ◽

Disease Activity ◽

Latin American ◽

Lupus Erythematosus ◽

Clinical Manifestations ◽

Hazard Ratio ◽

Systemic Lupus ◽

Serious Infections ◽

Damage Accrual ◽

Over Time

Aim The aim of this study was to identify factors predictive of serious infections over time in patients with systemic lupus erythematosus (SLE). Methods A multi-ethnic, multi-national Latin American SLE cohort was studied. Serious infection was defined as one that required hospitalization, occurred during a hospitalization or led to death. Potential predictors included were sociodemographic factors, clinical manifestations (per organ involved, lymphopenia and leukopenia, independently) and previous infections at baseline. Disease activity (SLEDAI), damage (SLICC/ACR Damage Index), non-serious infections, glucocorticoids, antimalarials (users and non-users), and immunosuppressive drugs use; the last six variables were examined as time-dependent covariates. Cox regression models were used to evaluate the predictors of serious infections using a backward elimination procedure. Univariable and multivariable analyses were performed. Results Of the 1243 patients included, 1116 (89.8%) were female. The median (interquartile range) age at diagnosis and follow-up time were 27 (20–37) years and 47.8 (17.9–68.6) months, respectively. The incidence rate of serious infections was 3.8 cases per 100 person-years. Antimalarial use (hazard ratio: 0.69; 95% confidence interval (CI): 0.48–0.99; p = 0.0440) was protective, while doses of prednisone >15 and ≤60 mg/day (hazard ratio: 4.18; 95 %CI: 1.69–10.31; p = 0.0019) and >60 mg/day (hazard ratio: 4.71; 95% CI: 1.35–16.49; p = 0.0153), use of methylprednisolone pulses (hazard ratio: 1.53; 95% CI: 1.10–2.13; p = 0.0124), increase in disease activity (hazard ratio: 1.03; 95% CI: 1.01–1.04; p = 0.0016) and damage accrual (hazard ratio: 1.22; 95% CI: 1.11–1.34; p < 0.0001) were predictive factors of serious infections. Conclusions Over time, prednisone doses higher than 15 mg/day, use of methylprednisolone pulses, increase in disease activity and damage accrual were predictive of infections, whereas antimalarial use was protective against them in SLE patients.

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Epidemiologic Profile of Erectile Dysfunction in Patients with Systemic Lupus Erythematosus: The Latin American Landscape

The Journal of Rheumatology ◽

10.3899/jrheum.180292 ◽

2019 ◽

Vol 46 (4) ◽

pp. 397-404 ◽

Cited By ~ 4

Author(s):

Javier Merayo-Chalico ◽

Ana Barrera-Vargas ◽

Sandra Morales-Padilla ◽

Roberto Reyna-De la Garza ◽

Ricardo Vázquez-Rodríguez ◽

...

Keyword(s):

Risk Factors ◽

Systemic Lupus Erythematosus ◽

Erectile Dysfunction ◽

Latin American ◽

Lupus Erythematosus ◽

Tertiary Care ◽

Systemic Lupus ◽

American College Of Rheumatology ◽

Epidemiologic Profile ◽

Tertiary Care Centers

Objective.The aim of this study was to describe the prevalence of erectile dysfunction (ED), as well as associated demographic and clinical features, in men with systemic lupus erythematosus (SLE), by means of a systematic, standardized evaluation.Methods.We performed a transversal study in 8 tertiary care centers in Latin America. We included male patients ≥ 16 years who fulfilled ≥ 4 American College of Rheumatology criteria for SLE and had regular sexual activity, and evaluated them with the International Index of Erectile Function-5 questionnaire. Relevant demographic, clinical, and serological characteristics were recorded. We included 2 control groups: the first was made up of healthy men and the second of men with autoimmune diseases other than SLE (non-SLE group).Results.We included 590 subjects (174 SLE, 55 non-SLE, and 361 healthy controls). The prevalence of ED in the SLE group was 69%. Mean age in that group was 36.3 ± 1.03 years. Among SLE patients with and without ED, these factors were significantly different: the presence of persistent lymphopenia (p = 0.006), prednisone dose (9.3 ± 1.2 vs 5.3 ± 1.3 mg, p = 0.026), and the Systemic Lupus International Collaborating Clinics damage score (1.25 ± 0.14 vs 0.8 ± 0.16 points, p = 0.042). Independent risk factors for ED in patients with SLE were persistent lymphopenia (OR 2.79, 95% CI 1.37–5.70, p = 0.001) and corticosteroid use in the previous year (OR 2.15, 95% CI 1.37–3.37, p = 0.001).Conclusion.Regardless of comorbidities, treatment (excluding steroids), and type of disease activity, patients with SLE have a high prevalence of ED, especially considering that most patients are young. Recent corticosteroid use and persistent lymphopenia, which could be related to endothelial dysfunction, are risk factors for this complication in men with SLE.

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Primary cardiac disease in systemic lupus erythematosus patients: protective and risk factors--data from a multi-ethnic Latin American cohort

Rheumatology ◽

10.1093/rheumatology/keu011 ◽

2014 ◽

Vol 53 (8) ◽

pp. 1431-1438 ◽

Cited By ~ 21

Author(s):

M. A. Garcia ◽

G. S. Alarcon ◽

G. Boggio ◽

L. Hachuel ◽

A. I. Marcos ◽

...

Keyword(s):

Risk Factors ◽

Systemic Lupus Erythematosus ◽

Latin American ◽

Lupus Erythematosus ◽

Cardiac Disease ◽

Systemic Lupus

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Cardiovascular Disease in Latin American Patients with Systemic Lupus Erythematosus: A Cross-Sectional Study and a Systematic Review

Autoimmune Diseases ◽

10.1155/2013/794383 ◽

2013 ◽

Vol 2013 ◽

pp. 1-20 ◽

Cited By ~ 5

Author(s):

Jenny Amaya-Amaya ◽

Juan Camilo Sarmiento-Monroy ◽

Julián Caro-Moreno ◽

Nicolás Molano-González ◽

Rubén D. Mantilla ◽

...

Keyword(s):

Risk Factors ◽

Systematic Review ◽

Systemic Lupus Erythematosus ◽

Cardiovascular Disease ◽

Latin American ◽

Lupus Erythematosus ◽

Coffee Consumption ◽

Independent Effect ◽

Systemic Lupus ◽

Cross Sectional

Objective. This study was performed to determine the prevalence of and associated risk factors for cardiovascular disease (CVD) in Latin American (LA) patients with systemic lupus erythematosus (SLE).Methods. First, a cross-sectional analytical study was conducted in 310 Colombian patients with SLE in whom CVD was assessed. Associated factors were examined by multivariate regression analyses. Second, a systematic review of the literature on CVD in SLE in LA was performed.Results. There were 133 (36.5%) Colombian SLE patients with CVD. Dyslipidemia, smoking, coffee consumption, and pleural effusion were positively associated with CVD. An independent effect of coffee consumption and cigarette on CVD was found regardless of gender and duration of disease. In the systematic review, 60 articles fulfilling the eligibility criteria were included. A wide range of CVD prevalence was found (4%–79.5%). Several studies reported ancestry, genetic factors, and polyautoimmunity as novel risk factors for such a condition.Conclusions. A high rate of CVD is observed in LA patients with SLE. Awareness of the observed risk factors should encourage preventive population strategies for CVD in patients with SLE aimed at facilitating the suppression of cigarette smoking and coffee consumption as well as at the tight control of dyslipidemia and other modifiable risk factors.

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Hydroxychloroquine levels in patients with systemic lupus erythematosus: whole blood is preferable but serum levels also detect non-adherence

Arthritis Research & Therapy ◽

10.1186/s13075-020-02291-z ◽

2020 ◽

Vol 22 (1) ◽

Cited By ~ 1

Author(s):

Benoit Blanchet ◽

◽

Moez Jallouli ◽

Marie Allard ◽

Pascale Ghillani-Dalbin ◽

...

Keyword(s):

Risk Factors ◽

Systemic Lupus Erythematosus ◽

Lupus Erythematosus ◽

Whole Blood ◽

Serum Levels ◽

Detectable Level ◽

Multiple Logistic Regression ◽

Systemic Lupus ◽

The Mean ◽

Better Than

Abstract Background Hydroxychloroquine (HCQ) levels can be measured in both serum and whole blood. No cut-off point for non-adherence has been established in serum nor have these methods ever been compared. The aims of this study were to compare these two approaches and determine if serum HCQ cut-off points can be established to identify non-adherent patients. Methods HCQ levels were measured in serum and whole blood from 573 patients with systemic lupus erythematosus (SLE). The risk factors for active SLE (SLEDAI score > 4) were identified by multiple logistic regression. Serum HCQ levels were measured in 68 additional patients known to be non-adherent, i.e. with whole-blood HCQ < 200 ng/mL. Results The mean (± SD) HCQ levels were 469 ± 223 ng/mL in serum and 916 ± 449 ng/mL in whole blood. The mean ratio of serum/whole-blood HCQ levels was 0.53 ± 0.15. In the multivariate analysis, low whole-blood HCQ levels (P = 0.023), but not serum HCQ levels, were independently associated with active SLE. From the mean serum/whole-blood level ratio, a serum HCQ level of 106 ng/mL was extrapolated as the corresponding cut-off to identify non-adherent patients with a sensitivity of 0.87 (95% CI 0.76–0.94) and specificity of 0.89 (95% CI 0.72–0.98). All serum HCQ levels of patients with whole-blood HCQ below the detectable level (< 20 ng/mL) were also undetectable (< 20 ng/mL). Conclusions These data suggest that whole blood is better than serum for assessing the pharmacokinetic/pharmacodynamic relation of HCQ. Our results support the use of serum HCQ levels to assess non-adherence when whole blood is unavailable.

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