J Rheumatol
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Randomized Controlled Trial Clinical Trial
Effects of vitamins C and E on oxidative stress markers and endothelial function in patients with systemic lupus erythematosus: a double blind, placebo controlled pilot study.
Patients with systemic lupus erythematosus (SLE) experience excess morbidity and mortality due to coronary artery disease (CAD) that cannot be fully explained by the classical CAD risk factors. Among emerging CAD risk factors, oxidative stress is currently being emphasized. We evaluated the effects of longterm antioxidant vitamins on markers of oxidative stress and antioxidant defense and endothelial function in 39 patients with SLE. ⋯ Combined administration of vitamins C and E was associated with decreased lipid peroxidation, but did not affect endothelial function in patients with SLE after 3 months of therapy.
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Polyarteritis nodosa (PAN) is a term that includes patients with necrotizing inflammation of medium sized arteries, and excludes those with microscopic vessel involvement. Its manifestations are protean and include constitutional symptoms such as fever, malaise, weight loss, myalgia, peripheral neuropathy, rash, and gut and renal involvement. Although gastrointestinal manifestations have been noted in up to a third of patients with PAN, clinical presentation with pancreatic involvement has been reported only rarely. We describe a patient with PAN who developed acute pancreatitis with pseudocyst formation as well as infarcts in the spleen and liver.