Assessment of Lupus Nephritis in a Multicenter Retrospective Egyptian Cohort: Initial Characteristics, Influence of Age and Gender, Outcome, and Potential Association with Disease Damage.

The study aimed to evaluate the association of demographic, clinical, and histopathologic characteristics with renal and disease outcomes. Persistent lack of partial or complete remission despite sequential induction therapy, chronic kidney disease (CKD) or endstage renal disease (ESRD), and/or mortality were determined as poor renal outcomes. Disease damage was investigated through the Systemic Lupus International Collaborating Clinics/ American College of Rheumatology Damage Index (SDI). Of 201 biopsy-proven lupus nephritis patients, a poor outcome was present in 56 (27.9%) patients, with nine (4.5%), 22 (10.9%), and 29 (14.4%) patients demonstrating lack of response, CKD, and ESRD, respectively, and the prevalence of mortality was 5.5% (11/201). The outcome was poor among males [29/201 (14.4%)] [P = 0.008; odds ratio (OR): 2.8; 95% confidence interval (CI): 1.2-6.4], yet comparable between adult- and juvenile-onset patients [80/201 (39.8%) (≤16 years)] (P = 0.6; OR: 0.8; 95% CI: 0.4-1.6). Hypertension (P <0.001; OR: 6.3; 95% CI: 2.6-14.9), elevated creatinine (P <0.001; OR: 5.2; 95% CI: 2.6-10.3), and hematuria (P <0.001; OR: 3.7; 95% CI: 1.9-7.5) at presentation, and fibrinoid necrosis [P <0.001; odds ratio (OR): 4.1; 95% confidence interval (CI): 2.1-8.1], wire loops (P = 0.006; OR: 2.4; 95% CI: 1.2-4.6), crescents (P <0.001; OR: 5.4 95% CI: 2.8-10.5), interstitial fibrosis (P = 0.001; OR: 2.7; 95% CI: 1.4-5.1), and acute vascular lesions (P = 0.004; OR: 3.6; 95% CI: 1.4-9.4) on biopsy were associated with a poor outcome. Chronic glomerular (P = 0.003) and acute vascular lesions (P <0.001), and a higher chronicity index (r = 0.1; P = 0.006) on biopsy, and frequent renal (r = 0.3; P <0.001) and extra-renal flares (r = 0.2; P <0.001) were associated with higher SDI scores. Among the studied renal and extra-renal parameters, independent predictors of higher disease damage solely included frequent renal flares (ᵝ= 1; P <0.001). To conclude, a poor renal outcome (27.9%) was associated with distinct features. Disease damage was associated with frequent renal flares.

A comparative study between the disease characteristics in adult-onset and childhood-onset systemic lupus erythematosus in Egyptian patients attending a large university hospital.

INTRODUCTION: Disease features and laboratory abnormalities differ among adult-onset and childhood-onset systemic lupus erythematosus (aSLE and cSLE). Socioeconomic status both independent of, and in combination with, ethnicity influences the disease phenotype and outcome. OBJECTIVE: To compare the various disease features among patients with cSLE and aSLE in a limited monetary income Egyptian cohort attending a large free-of-charge university hospital. Patients and methods: Retrospective analysis of the medical records of 714 SLE patients attending Cairo University Hospitals from January 2000 to December 2019. Of them 602 (400 with aSLE and 202 with cSLE) were enrolled in the study. RESULTS: The mean age of disease onset was 28.27 ± 10.55 among aSLE patients compared to 12.88 ± 4.26 years among cSLE patients. Disease duration was 12.03 ± 5.05 and 4.14 ± 3.18 years in aSLE and cSLE, respectively. Female to male ratio was 15:1 among patients with aSLE, as compared to 2.67:1 among cSLE (<0.001). Arthritis (69%), oral ulcers (48.5%), neuropsychiatric (18.3%) and thrombotic manifestations of antiphospholipid syndrome (12%) were significantly more frequent in aSLE. On the other hand, renal (67.8%), serositis (49.6%), fever (49%), lymphopenia (40.6%), hemolytic anemia (38.6%), and discoid lupus (13.4%) were significantly more frequent in cSLE. Weight loss, malar rash, photosensitivity, thrombocytopenia, leucopenia and lymphadenopathy were not significantly different between the two groups. Hypocomplementemia, proteinuria, urinary sediments, hematuria were significantly more frequent in cSLE. For those patients with renal involvement, who underwent renal biopsy (58.3% in aSLE and 63.5% in cSLE), there was no significant difference with regard to the different histopathological classes. Anti-Smith, anti-cardiolipin antibodies and rheumatoid factor were significantly more frequent among aSLE patients, while anti-La antibodies were more frequent among cSLE patients. CONCLUSION: Arthritis was the most common clinical manifestation over time in aSLE compared to renal involvement in cSLE. Renal disease tends to be more active in cSLE. The differences in disease manifestations between this cohort and other studies can be attributed to the ethnic and socioeconomic disparities.

Serum Amyloid A Level in Egyptian Children with Familial Mediterranean Fever.

Background and Objectives. SAA is an acute-phase reactant detected during an FMF attack or other inflammatory conditions. High SAA levels may increase the risk of amyloidosis. The aim of the study is to measure the serum amyloid A (SAA) level in a group of Egyptian children with familial Mediterranean fever (FMF) and study its various correlates, if any. Methods. The study enrolled seventy-one children with FMF. Results. SAA level was high in 78.9% of the studied patients with a mean of 81.62 ± 31.6 mg/L, and CRP was positive in 31% of patients. There was no significant releation between SAA level and any demographic or clinical manifestation. High SAA was more frequent in V726A allele (16.9%) followed by M694V allele (12.3%). Elevated SAA levels were more frequent in patients on low colchicine doses. Forty-five percent (45%) of patients have low adherence to colchicine therapy. Interpretation and Conclusion. High SAA levels were detected two weeks after last FMF attack in a large percentage of Egyptian FMF children. This indicates that subclinical inflammation continues during attack-free periods, and SAA could be used as a marker of it.