Clinical and immunological characteristics of 150 systemic lupus erythematosus patients in Jamaica: a comparative analysis

Lupus ◽  
2017 ◽  
Vol 26 (13) ◽  
pp. 1448-1456 ◽  
Author(s):  
K C Maloney ◽  
T S Ferguson ◽  
H D Stewart ◽  
A A Myers ◽  
K De Ceulaer

Background Epidemiological studies in systemic lupus erythematosus have been reported in the literature in many countries and ethnic groups. Although systemic lupus erythematosus in Jamaica has been described in the past, there has not been a detailed evaluation of systemic lupus erythematosus patients in urban Jamaica, a largely Afro-Caribbean population. The goal of this study was to describe the clinical features, particularly disease activity, damage index and immunological features, of 150 systemic lupus erythematosus subjects. Methods 150 adult patients (≥18 years) followed in rheumatology clinic at a tertiary rheumatology hospital centre (one of two of the major public referral centres in Jamaica) and the private rheumatology offices in urban Jamaica who fulfilled Systemic Lupus International Collaborating Clinics (SLICC) criteria were included. Data were collected by detailed clinical interview and examination and laboratory investigations. Hence demographics, SLICC criteria, immunological profile, systemic lupus erythematosus disease activity index 2000 (SLEDAI-2K) and SLICC/American College of Rheumatology (ACR) damage index (SDI) were documented. Results Of the 150 patients, 145 (96.7%) were female and five (3.3%) were male. The mean age at systemic lupus erythematosus onset was 33.2 ± 10.9. Mean disease duration was 11.3 ± 8.6 years. The most prevalent clinical SLICC criteria were musculoskeletal, with 141 (94%) of subjects experiencing arthralgia/arthritis, followed by mucocutaneous manifestations of alopecia 103 (68.7%) and malar rash 46 (30.7%), discoid rash 45 (30%) and photosensitivity 40 (26.7%). Lupus nephritis (biopsy proven) occurred in 42 (28%) subjects and 25 (16.7%) met SLICC diagnostic criteria with only positive antinuclear antibodies/dsDNA antibodies and lupus nephritis on renal biopsy. The most common laboratory SLICC criteria were positive antinuclear antibodies 136 (90.7%) followed by anti-dsDNA antibodies 95 (63.3%) and low complement (C3) levels 38 (25.3%). Twenty-seven (18%) met SLICC diagnostic criteria with only positive antinuclear antibodies/anti-dsDNA antibodies and lupus nephritis on renal biopsy. Mean SLEDAI score was 6.9 ± 5.1 with a range of 0–32. Organ damage occurred in 129 (86%) patients; mean SDI was 2.4 ± 1.8, with a range of 0–9. Conclusion These results are similar to the clinical manifestations reported in other Afro-Caribbean populations; however, distinct differences exist with respect to organ involvement and damage, particularly with respect to renal involvement, which appears to be reduced in our participants.

Folia Medica ◽  
2014 ◽  
Vol 56 (4) ◽  
pp. 245-252 ◽  
Author(s):  
Maria E. Tsanyan ◽  
Sergey K. Soloviev ◽  
Stefka G. Radenska-Lopovok ◽  
Anna V. Torgashina ◽  
Ekaterina V. Nikolaeva ◽  
...  

Abstract Aim: TO assess the effects of rituximab (RTM) therapy on clinical and morphologic activity of lupus nephritis (LN). Material and methods: The study included 45 patients with confirmed diagnosis of systemic lupus erythematosus (SLE), unaffected by previously received standard therapy with glucocorticoids (GCs) and cytostatics. The disease activity was assessed using Systemic Lupus Erythematosus Disease Activity Index 2000 (SLEDAI 2K); to assess the LN activity we used the SLICC RA/RE index. Forty-five patients with LN were given puncture renal biopsy prior to prescribing RTM; 16 patients had repeated renal biopsy 1 year and more after beginning the anti-B-cell therapy. LN was graded histologically in accordance with the WHO classification (2003) with indices of activity (AI) and chronicity (CI). Results: The predominant number of patients had class III - IV of LN. The repeated renal biopsies demonstrated that LN had undergone a transition into a more favourable morphologic class, which was associated, in most of these cases, with a positive therapeutic effect. The follow-up dynamics showed a statistically significant reduction of AI (p=0.006), and no statistically significant changes in the CI (p = 0.14). Conclusion: The long-term follow-up in the study has showed that repeated courses of anti-B-cell therapy with RTM have a positive effect both on SLE activity and generally on the renal process. The reduction of the morphologic class of LN as assessed in the repeated renal biopsies is a convincing proof for this. Eleven out of 16 patients experienced transition of the morphologic class into a more favourable type, which in most cases was combined with lower AI (p = 0.006). We found no evidence of increase in the CI (p = 0.14).


2021 ◽  
pp. jim-2021-001887
Author(s):  
María Correa-Rodríguez ◽  
Gabriela Pocovi-Gerardino ◽  
Jose Luis Callejas-Rubio ◽  
Raquel Ríos-Fernández ◽  
María Martín-Amada ◽  
...  

Systemic lupus erythematosus (SLE) is an autoimmune disorder characterized by the formation of antigen–antibody complexes which trigger an immune response. We investigate certain autoantibodies including nucleosome, double-stranded DNA (dsDNA), Smith, ribonucleoprotein, and Sjögren’s syndrome-related antigens, and examine their associations with disease activity, damage accrual, and SLE-related clinical and serological manifestations in patients with SLE. We conducted a cross-sectional study with a total 293 patients (90.4% female, mean age 46.87±12.94 years) and used the Systemic Lupus Erythematosus Disease Activity Index 2000 and Systemic Lupus International Collaborating Clinics/American College of Rheumatology Damage Index (SDI) to evaluate disease activity and disease-related damage, respectively. Systemic Lupus Erythematosus Disease Activity Index scores were significantly higher in anti-nucleosome-positive (3.87±2.72 vs 2.52±2.76, p=0.004) and anti-dsDNA-positive (3.08±2.91 vs 2.04±2.48, p=0.010) patients compared with patients without these antibodies. SDI scores were also significantly higher in anti-nucleosome-positive patients (1.61±1.99 vs 0.89±1.06, p=0.004). The presence of antinucleosome (p=0.019) and anti-dsDNA antibodies (p=0.001) both correlated significantly with the incidence of nephritis; anti-La antibodies were associated with arthritis (p=0.022), and we also observed a relationship between the presence of antinucleosome antibodies and leukopenia (p=0.011). Patients with antinucleosome or anti-dsDNA antibodies had a higher disease activity and were likely to have nephritis. Antinucleosome was also associated with more damage accrual. A greater understanding of these autoantibodies could lead to the development of new approaches to more accurate assessments of SLE.


Author(s):  
U. O. Abrahamovych ◽  
O. O. Abrahamovych ◽  
O. N. Nadashkevych ◽  
A. S. Svintsitsky ◽  
O. V. Synenkyi

The diagnostic criteria for systemic lupus erythematosus were first proposed in 1971 by the American College of Rheumatology. Though they have been revised several times (in 1982 and 1997), but, according to the information in the literary sources and our own clinical experience, the diagnosis may often be obvious, but the number of criteria is not sufficient and vice versa. This study aimed at improving diagnostic criteria for systemic lupus erythematosus (SLE). Materials and methods. 370 subjects (331 women, 89.46%, and 39 men, 10.54%, whose mean age was 41.24 ± 0.63 years) with confirmed diagnosis of systemic lupus erythematosus made up the main group. The comparison group included 234 patients (150 women, 64.10%, and 84 men, 35.90%), whose mean age was 48.82 ± 0.85 years) diagnosed to have rheumatic diseases (rheumatoid arthritis, psoriatic arthropathy). Through the period of 2010 – 2018 all the participants were subjected to comprehensive clinical laboratory and instrumental examination of all their organs and systems before starting the treatment. The obtained data were analyzed by MS Excel and SPSS by contingency tables with the calculation of diagnostic and prognostic values ​​(the relationship was considered to be significant if the absolute value of association coefficient exceeded 0.5 or the absolute value of the contingency coefficient exceeded 0.3) and Receiver Operating Characteristic-analysis. Results. The statistical analysis allowed us to identify 14 criteria comprising 18 manifestations that indicated systemic lupus erythematosus with confirmed highest sensitivity, specificity and accuracy. They include butterfly rash, photosensitivity, serous inflammation (pericarditis, pleuritis), joint pain, muscle pain, fever, alopecia, Raynaud syndrome, livedo reticularis, nervous system impairment (cramps, psychosis), thrombocytopenia, kidney damage (proteinuria, cylindruria), anti-dsDNA antibodies, antinuclear antibodies. These criteria are highly predictive; the combination of arthralgias and the presence of anti-dsDNA antibodies allows to predict the diagnosis of systemic lupus erythematosus in patients with an almost 100% certainty. To be diagnosed with systemic lupus erythematosus, patient has to meet at least three of the 14 proposed diagnostic criteria that would occur simultaneously or one after another in any period. Conclusion. We have clarified diagnostic criteria for systemic lupus erythematosus by identifying 14 criteria as follows: butterfly rash, photosensitivity, serous inflammation (pericarditis, pleuritis), joint pain, muscle pain, fever, alopecia, Raynaud syndrome, neurological disorders (cramps, psychosis), livedo reticularis, thrombocytopenia, kidney damage (proteinuria, cylindruria), anti-dsDNA antibodies, and antinuclear antibodies.


2019 ◽  
Vol 15 (4) ◽  
pp. 304-311
Author(s):  
Mervat E. Behiry ◽  
Sahar A. Ahmed ◽  
Eman H. Elsebaie

: Systemic Lupus Erythematosus (SLE) has a profound impact on quality of life. Objective: The objective of this study was to explore the quality of life among Egyptian SLE patients and to assess its relationships with demographic and clinical features. Methods: One hundred sixty-four SLE patients were recruited for this study. Demographic information; clinical parameters; disease activity, as evaluated by the systemic lupus erythematosus Disease Activity Index; and organ damage, as assessed by the systemic lupus international Collaborative Clinics/American College of Rheumatology Damage Index, were reported. Quality of life was assessed with a quality of life questionnaire specifically designed for patients with systemic lupus erythematosus; the questions are grouped in the following six domains: physical function, sociooccupational activities, symptoms, treatment, mood, and self-image. Higher values indicate poorer quality of life. Conclusion: Poor quality of life among Egyptian SLE patients and disease activity are strongly related to impaired lifestyles in these patients.


2020 ◽  
Vol 79 (Suppl 1) ◽  
pp. 1048.1-1048
Author(s):  
W. Hu

Background:Classical lupus nephritis (LN) is characterized by glomerular immune complex(IC) deposition with glomerular proliferation, basement membrane destruction and cell infiltration. Non-IC mediated renal injury with thrombotic microangiopathy (TMA) was also reported in patients with systemic lupus erythematosus (SLE-renal TMA), but most studies were reported in patients with both LN and renal TMA.Objectives:In this study, clinical features and outcomes of SLE-renal TMA in absence of obvious IC in SLE patients were analyzed.Methods:Patients with glomerular TMA and/or vascular TMA in the absence of obvious subendothelial or epithelial immune deposits were screened out from 2332 biopsied in SLE patients who underwent first renal biopsy from January 2005 to August 2016. Their clinical, histological features and outcomes were retrospectively analyzed.Results:In 2332 renal biopsies obtained from SLE patients, 257 (11.0%) showed renal TMA, of which 237 showed both renal TMA and LN, and 20 biopsies had only renal TMA (SLE-renal TMA). There were 2 males and 18 females with an average age of (25 ± 10) years. The median course of SLE and LN were 3.0(1.0, 6.0) and 0.8(0.5, 1.9) months. All 20 patients deserved acute kidney injury, of which 11 (55%) needed renal replacement therapy (RRT) and 12 (60%) were nephrotic syndrome. Blood system involvement was found in all cases, including 13 cases (65.0%) with TMA triad (microvascular hemolytic anemia, thrombocytopenia and elevated lactate dehydrogenase).Pathological examination showed that 17 cases (85.0%) had both glomerular TMA and vascular TMA. Immunofluorescence and electron microscopy showed that 8 cases (40%) had no IC deposition in glomerulus and 12 cases (60%) had only IC deposition in mesangium. Acute tubulointerstitial lesions in patients requiring RRT were more serious than those no needing for RRT((43.6±24.9) %vs(21.7±20.1) %,P=0.047). The fusion range of foot process was positively correlated with proteinuria (r2= 0.347,P=0.006).All patients received high-dose methylprednisolone pulse therapy. Four patients received plasma exchange and three patients received gamma globulin, respectively. Eleven patients requiring RRT all stop RRT in a median time of 16.0 (9.0, 30.0) days. During a median follow-up of 58.0 (36.0, 92.3) months, complete remission (CR) was obtained in 15 cases, partial remission in 4 cases and no remission in 1 case. Six cases (30%) relapsed. No case died or progressed to end stage renal disease.Conclusion:Renal injury characterized by TMA is not uncommon in SLE renal biopsy cases. The clinical manifestation is special and the renal injury is serious. The renal outcome is good by intensive immunosuppressive therapy. It should be considered as a unique type of renal injury in SLE.References:[1]Moake JL. Thrombotic microangiopathies. N Engl J Med. 2002. 347(8): 589-600.[2]Anders HJ, Weening JJ. Kidney disease in lupus is not always ‘lupus nephritis’. Arthritis Res Ther. 2013. 15(2): 108.[3]Song D, Wu LH, Wang FM, et al. The spectrum of renal thrombotic microangiopathy in lupus nephritis. Arthritis Res Ther. 2013. 15(1): R12.[4]Hu WX, Liu ZZ, Chen HP, Zhang HT, Li LS, Liu ZH. Clinical characteristics and prognosis of diffuse proliferative lupus nephritis with thrombotic microangiopathy. Lupus. 2010. 19(14): 1591-8.[5]Tomov S, Lazarchick J, Self SE, Bruner ET, Budisavljevic MN. Kidney-limited thrombotic microangiopathy in patients with SLE treated with romiplostim. Lupus. 2013. 22(5): 504-9.[6]Li C, Yap D, Chan G, et al. Clinical Outcomes and Clinico-pathological Correlations in Lupus Nephritis with Kidney Biopsy Showing Thrombotic Microangiopathy. J Rheumatol. 2019 .[7]Chen MH, Chen MH, Chen WS, et al. Thrombotic microangiopathy in systemic lupus erythematosus: a cohort study in North Taiwan. Rheumatology (Oxford). 2011. 50(4): 768-75.[8]Park MH, AUID- Oho, Caselman N, Ulmer S, Weitz IC, AUID- Oho. Complement-mediated thrombotic microangiopathy associated with lupus nephritis. Blood Adv. 2018. 2(16): 2090-2094.Disclosure of Interests:None declared


Lupus ◽  
2020 ◽  
pp. 096120332097904
Author(s):  
Eman Ahmed Hafez ◽  
Sameh Abd El-mottleb Hassan ◽  
Mohammed Abdel Monem Teama ◽  
Fatma Mohammed Badr

Objective Lupus nephritis (LN) is closely associated with hyperuricemia, and uric acid is considered a risk factor for renal involvement in systemic lupus erythematosus (SLE). This study aimed to examine the association between serum uric acid (SUA) level and LN development and progression in SLE patients with normal renal function. Methods A total of 60 SLE patients with normal renal function from Ain Shams University Hospital were selected and assigned to group 1 (30 patients with LN) and group 2 (30 patients without LN). All patients were subjected to history taking, clinical examination, disease activity assessment based on SLE disease activity index (SLEDAI) and renal SLEDAI (SLEDAI-R) scores, and laboratory investigations, including as SUA, complete blood count, blood urea nitrogen (BUN), serum creatinine, creatinine clearance, urine analysis, protein/creatinine ratio, 24-h urinary protein excretion, Antinuclear antibodies (ANA), anti-dsDNA antibody, and serum complement (C3, C4). Results Disease duration, SLEDAI score, and SUA level were higher in group 1 than in group 2 (p < 0.001). SUA level was positively correlated with SLEDAI and SLEDAI-R scores, proteinuria, urinary casts, renal biopsy class, disease activity and chronicity indices, BUN level, and serum creatinine level but was negatively correlated with creatinine clearance (p < 0.05). SUA was a predictor of LN development in SLE patients (sensitivity, 83.3%; specificity, 70%). Conclusion SUA is associated with the development of lupus nephritis in patients with normal kidney function also SUA in-dependently correlated with disease activity and chronicity in LN.


2013 ◽  
Vol 40 (4) ◽  
pp. 513-519 ◽  
Author(s):  
Lily Siok Hoon Lim ◽  
Arlette Lefebvre ◽  
Susanne Benseler ◽  
Earl D. Silverman

Objective.(1) To describe the clinical course and response to treatment; and (2) to evaluate and compare damage accrual of distinct phenotypic subgroups of patients with clinically important psychiatric illness of pediatric systemic lupus erythematosus (pSLE).Methods.A single-center cohort study of patients with pSLE followed at a pediatric lupus clinic from 1985 to July 2009. Clinical course and response to treatment were studied. Remission was defined by absence of psychiatric/cognitive symptoms while receiving minimal doses of prednisone. Disease activity and damage were measured using SLE Disease Activity Index and SLE Damage Index.Results.Fifty-three children were included: 40 with psychosis and cognitive dysfunction (PSYC group) and 13 with isolated cognitive dysfunction (COG group). All received immunosuppressive treatment. Eighteen of 32 treated with azathioprine required a change to cyclophosphamide for poor response but none on cyclophosphamide required a change. The median times to remission were 72 weeks (PSYC) and 70 weeks (COG). Eight patients (7 PSYC, 1 COG) experienced flare following response/remission. New damage was noted in 50% of children at a median of 11 months: 57% of PSYC group, 31% of COG group. Persistent cognitive dysfunction was seen in 16% of PSYC patients and 15% of COG patients.Conclusion.Most patients responded to immunosuppressive treatment, although median time to remission was > 1 year. Roughly half the patients acquired a new damage item, most of which did not interfere with functional abilities. Fewer than 20% of patients developed neuropsychiatric damage. Both phenotypes of psychiatric pSLE responded equally well to current treatment.


2015 ◽  
Vol 2015 ◽  
pp. 1-6 ◽  
Author(s):  
Conti Fabrizio ◽  
Ceccarelli Fulvia ◽  
Perricone Carlo ◽  
Massaro Laura ◽  
Marocchi Elisa ◽  
...  

Objectives. The anti-dsDNA antibodies are a marker for Systemic Lupus Erythematosus (SLE) and 70–98% of patients test positive. We evaluated the demographic, clinical, laboratory, and therapeutical features of a monocentric SLE cohort according to the anti-dsDNA status.Methods. We identified three groups: anti-dsDNA + (persistent positivity); anti-dsDNA ± (initial positivity and subsequent negativity during disease course); anti-dsDNA − (persistent negativity). Disease activity was assessed by the European Consensus Lupus Activity Measurement (ECLAM).Results. We evaluated 393 patients (anti-dsDNA +: 62.3%; anti-dsDNA ±: 13.3%; anti-dsDNA −: 24.4%). The renal involvement was significantly more frequent in anti-dsDNA + (30.2%), compared with anti-dsDNA ± and anti-dsDNA − (21.1% and 18.7%, resp.;P=0.001). Serositis resulted significantly more frequent in anti-dsDNA − (82.3%) compared to anti-dsDNA + and anti-dsDNA ± (20.8% and 13.4%, resp.;P<0.0001). The reduction of C4 serum levels was identified significantly more frequently in anti-dsDNA + and anti-dsDNA ± (40.0% and 44.2%, resp.) compared with anti-dsDNA − (21.8%,P=0.005). We did not identify significant differences in the mean ECLAM values before and after modification of anti-dsDNA status (P=0.7).Conclusion. Anti-dsDNA status influences the clinical and immunological features of SLE patients. Nonetheless, it does not appear to affect disease activity.


2020 ◽  
Vol 79 (Suppl 1) ◽  
pp. 1059.3-1059
Author(s):  
M. Garabajiu ◽  
L. Mazur-Nicorici ◽  
T. Rotaru ◽  
V. Salaru ◽  
S. B. Victoria ◽  
...  

Background:Systemic lupus erythematosus is an autoimmune disease with a major impact on patient’s quality of life.Objectives:To evaluate patient’s attitude toward early disease and factors that influence it.Methods:Performed case-control study included SLE patients that fulfilled SLICC, 2012 classification criteria. The research included two groups of patients: early SLE – 1stgroup (disease duration ≤24 months) and non-early SLE – 2ndgroup control (disease duration >24 months). The pattern of the disease activity was assessed by patient global assessment (PGA), Systemic Lupus Erythematosus Disease Activity Index 2000 (SLEDAI-2K) and Systemic Lupus Activity Measure (SLAM), for SLE activity, SLICC/ACR Damage Index (DI) for disease irreversible changes and SF-8 for the Quality of Life (QoL).Results:A total of 101 SLE patients with 34 in the 1stgroup (early SLE) and 67 in the 2ndgroup (non-early SLE) was analyzed. The disease activity showed high disease activity in both groups by SLEDAI (7,02±4,16 and 6,26±4,43 points, p>0,05) and SLAM (7,47±4,40 and 7,31±4,10 points, p>0,05) such as (46,97±19,39 vs 47,98±22,41 points). The QoL was appreciated as low, by both components (mental and physical), in groups. The damage index was higher in the 2nd group (0,23±0,43 and 1,07±1,29, p<0,001), which can be explained by the development of irreversible changes with the increase of disease duration.The PGA in early SLE was influenced by subjective symptoms contained in SLAM index (r=0,48, p<0,05), such as fatigue and depression, and the level of the quality of life (r=0,65, p<0,001). Meantime, PGA in patients with longer disease duration (>2 years), was influenced by the presence of organ damage by SLICC/ACR DI (0,23, p<0,05) and objective findings of the disease activity contained in SLEDAI (r=0,33, p<0,005) and SLAM (0,44, p<0,001).Conclusion:The disease recognition in patients with early SLE was determined by subjective and psycho-emotional signs, while in patients with longer disease duration it was influenced by organ damage and complications.References:no referencesDisclosure of Interests:None declared


Lupus ◽  
2017 ◽  
Vol 27 (3) ◽  
pp. 407-416 ◽  
Author(s):  
S Baba ◽  
Y Katsumata ◽  
Y Okamoto ◽  
Y Kawaguchi ◽  
M Hanaoka ◽  
...  

We aimed to validate the reliability of the Medical Outcomes Study Short Form-36 (SF-36) among Japanese patients with systemic lupus erythematosus (SLE). Japanese patients with SLE ( n = 233) completed the SF-36 and other related demographic questionnaires, and physicians simultaneously completed the SLE Disease Activity Index 2000 (SLEDAI-2K) and the Systemic Lupus International Collaborating Clinics Damage Index (SDI). Patients were prospectively followed for a repeat assessment the following year. The SF-36 subscales demonstrated acceptable internal consistency (Cronbach’s α of 0.85–0.89), and an overall good test–retest reliability (intraclass correlation coefficient >0.70). The average baseline SF-36 subscale/summary scores except for “bodily pain” were significantly lower than those of the Japanese general population ( p < 0.05). The SDI showed an inverse correlation with the SF-36 subscale/summary scores except for “vitality” and “mental component summary” at baseline, whereas the SLEDAI-2K did not. In the second year, “social functioning” and “mental component summary” of the SF-36 deteriorated among patients whose SDI or SLEDAI-2K score increased (effect sizes < −0.20). In conclusion, the SF-36 demonstrated acceptable reliability among Japanese patients with SLE. Health-related quality of life measured by the SF-36 was reduced in Japanese patients with SLE and associated with disease damage, rather than disease activity.


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