Depression and Quality of Life in Patients with Systemic Lupus Erythematosus

OBJECTIVE: The objective of this study is to examine the prevalence of depression and its related factors including quality of life, brain-derived neurotrophic factor (BDNF), and vitamin D in patients with systemic lupus erythematosus (SLE). METHODS: Depression was assessed using the center for epidemiologic studies depression (CES-D) scale. Disease activity, disease-related organ damage, the EuroQol-5 dimensions (EQ-5D), sociodemographic features, and laboratory tests including serum vitamin D level were surveyed. Serum BDNF was measured using an enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay. RESULTS: Depression was observed in 22.8% of 180 SLE patients (n=41). Patients with marital status of single/divorced/separated/widowed, a higher patient global assessment (PGA) score, and extreme pain/discomfort showed significant association with depression. The EQ-5D index showed negative correlation with CES-D score (r=-0.56, p<0.05). In each EQ-5D dimension, depression showed significant association with moderate to severe problems in self-care and usual activities, and extreme pain/discomfort. Serum BDNF levels were not associated with depression (p=0.75) but associated with SLE disease activity index (SLEDAI; r=-0.21, p<0.05). Serum vitamin D levels were not associated with depression (p=0.60) but showed negative correlation with SLEDAI (r=-0.23, p<0.05) and mean glucocorticoid dose over the previous 3 months (r=-0.21, p<0.05) after adjustment for use of vitamin D supplement. CONCLUSION: Depression was prevalent in patients with SLE and was associated with low quality of life, and a higher PGA but not with SLEDAI. Serum BDNF and vitamin D levels were not associated with depression but showed snegative correlation with SLEDAI.

Tophaceous Gout Misidentified as Inflammatory Polyp in External Auditory Canal

Gout is an inflammatory disorder in which urate crystals are deposited in the joints or soft tissues causing severe inflammation and pain. Urate crystals usually deposit in the joints, and sometimes in the extra-articular sites. A 67-year-old woman visited the otolaryngology clinic due to otalgia and discharge from the ear. She had experienced recurrent arthritis in the left second metatarsophalangeal joint from five years ago. She visited the otolaryngology clinic of our university hospital due to persistent inflammation in the ear canal despite treatment with antibiotics. An otoscopic examination showed a polyp-like mass near the eardrum. Computed tomography scan of temporal bone showed thickening of the eardrum and increased soft tissue density in the external ear canal. On histologic examination the polyp was finally found to be a urate crystal mass. She is now in a good state with urate lowering therapy. We report on a Korean case of tophaceous gout in the external ear canal that was misidentified as an inflammatory polyp.