Lupus
-
Randomized Controlled Trial Multicenter Study
Annexin A5 anticoagulant activity in children with systemic lupus erythematosus and the association with antibodies to domain I of β2-glycoprotein I.
Children with systemic lupus erythematosus (SLE) have a high prevalence of antiphospholipid (aPL) antibodies and are at increased risk for aPL-related thrombosis. We investigated the association between annexin A5 anticoagulant activity and antibodies to the domain I portion of β2-glycoprotein I (anti-DI antibodies), and propose a potential mechanism for the pathogenesis of aPL-related thrombosis. Using samples from 183 children with SLE collected during the Atherosclerosis Prevention in Pediatric Lupus Erythematosus (APPLE) trial, we examined resistance to the anticoagulant effects of annexin A5, using the annexin A5 resistance (A5R) assay, and evaluated for anti-DI IgG antibodies. ⋯ Children with SLE and positive anti-DI antibodies had significantly lower mean A5R levels compared to those with negative anti-DI antibodies: mean A5R = 155 ± 24% versus 177 ± 30% (p < 0.0001). In multivariate analysis, anti-DI antibodies (p = 0.013) and lupus anticoagulant (LA) (p = 0.036) were both independently associated with reduced A5R. Children with SLE have significantly reduced annexin A5 anticoagulant activity that is associated with the presence of LA and anti-DI antibodies.
-
Case Reports
Salmonella septic arthritis of the knees in a patient with systemic lupus erythematosus.
Hematogenous Salmonella osteomyelitis is uncommon in immunocompetent hosts, but occurs with some regularity in immunosuppressed patients affected by systemic lupus erythematosus (SLE). Surgical debridement with resection of compromised tissue is central to the surgical management of osteomyelitis. ⋯ She received prolonged antibiotic therapy and an extensive surgical debridement as part of a successful two-stage bilateral total knee replacement. This report illustrates the significance of Salmonella enterica infection in SLE patients, and the role of underlying bone and joint pathology such as bone infarcts, sub-acute osteomyelitis, and SLE synovitis.
-
Epidemiological studies with systemic lupus erythematosus (SLE) patients have been reported worldwide but, until now, a large evaluation had not been performed in Brazil. Therefore, we determined the clinical and immunological features of 888 SLE patients followed at our service from 2008 to 2012. The mean age at SLE onset and the mean disease duration were 29.9 ± 9.5 years old and 14.5 ± 8.4 years, respectively. ⋯ Male lupus patients presented a higher frequency of anti-dsDNA (45.8% vs. 34.2%, p = 0.047) and a trend of more nephritis (47.2% vs. 36.0%, p = 0.059). In conclusion, we identified a high prevalence of mucocutaneous manifestations in this Brazilian SLE cohort compared to other countries, mainly malar rash that was most commonly observed in female patients. Anti-dsDNA and other specific SLE autoantibodies were also identified in a higher frequency, predominantly in the male gender.
-
This study examined the contribution of pain and psychological distress to fatigue. ⋯ Both pain and depression were found to be strong predictors of fatigue, and negatively correlated with energy. Disease activity did not appear to play a significant role in lupus fatigue. These findings support the importance of managing depression and pain in order to reduce fatigue in patients with systemic lupus erythematosus.