Risk factors for hospitalization in Mexican patients with systemic lupus erythematosus.

INTRODUCTION: Systemic lupus erythematosus (SLE) is an autoimmune disease that often requires hospitalization. Most hospitalizations are due to infections and/or disease activity, for which several risk factors have been described in non-Mestizo patients. OBJECTIVE: To identify risk factors for hospitalization in patients with systemic lupus erythematosus (SLE). METHODS: This was an observational case-control study of patients with SLE in San Luis Potosí, Mexico, evaluated from January 2019 to October 2020. We compared hospitalized lupus patients with non-hospitalized lupus patients. We used descriptive statistics and logistic regression to describe potential risk factors. RESULTS: Of a total of 202 patients, 89 (45.1%) were hospitalized; these patients were younger, had shorter disease duration, higher disease activity scores (systemic lupus erythematosus disease activity index-SLEDAI), and more accumulated damage than non-hospitalized patients. The primary reasons for hospitalization were disease activity (60.7%), kidney disease, infection, and drug toxicity (5.6%). Multivariate analysis revealed several risk factors associated with hospitalization, including elevated creatinine, C-reactive protein, neutrophil levels, and constitutional symptoms, while prolonged international normalized ratio (INR), longer stay in the intensive care unit (ICU), and vasopressor use were associated with mortality. The use of antimalarials was a protective factor against hospitalization. Survival analysis revealed that patients with hospital-acquired infections had a lower probability of survival. CONCLUSIONS: Disease activity was the most common reason for hospitalization; kidney, constitutional, and hematological factors were associated with hospitalization; and the use of antimalarial was a protective factor for hospitalization.

Update of the guidelines for the pharmacological treatment of rheumatoid arthritis by the Mexican College of Rheumatology 2023.

OBJECTIVE: To develop updated guidelines for the pharmacological management of rheumatoid arthritis (RA). METHODS: A group of experts representative of different geographical regions and various medical services catering to the Mexican population with RA was formed. Questions based on Population, Intervention, Comparison, and Outcome (PICO) were developed, deemed clinically relevant. These questions were answered based on the results of a recent systematic literature review (SLR), and the evidence's validity was assessed using the GRADE system, considered a standard for these purposes. Subsequently, the expert group reached consensus on the direction and strength of recommendations through a multi-stage voting process. RESULTS: The updated guidelines for RA treatment stratify various therapeutic options, including different classes of DMARDs (conventional, biologicals, and JAK inhibitors), as well as NSAIDs, glucocorticoids, and analgesics. By consensus, it establishes the use of these in different subpopulations of interest among RA patients and addresses aspects related to vaccination, COVID-19, surgery, pregnancy and lactation, and others. CONCLUSIONS: This update of the Mexican guidelines for the pharmacological treatment of RA provides reference points for evidence-based decision-making, recommending patient participation in joint decision-making to achieve the greatest benefit for our patients. It also establishes recommendations for managing a variety of relevant conditions affecting our patients.

Renal function assessment in patients with systemic lupus erythematosus.

Few studies have evaluated the glomerular filtration rate (GFR) in patients with systemic lupus erythematosus (SLE). Even though the National Kidney Foundation (NKF) suggests using the equations to estimate GFR, rheumatologists continue using creatinine clearance (CCl). The main objective of our study was the assessment of different equations to estimate GFR in patients with SLE: Simplified MDRD study equation (sMDRD), CCl, Cockcroft Gault (CG), CG calculated with ideal weight (CGi), Mayo Clinic Quadratic (MCQ), and Chronic Kidney Disease Epidemiology Collaboration Equation (CKD-EPI). CKD-EPI was considered as the reference standard, and it was compared with the other equations to evaluate bias, correlation (r), sensitivity, specificity, positive predictive value (PPV), negative predictive value (NPV), percentage of measurement of GFR between 70-130% of GFR measured through CKD-EPI (P30) and to compute the ROC curves. Adequacy of the 24-h urine collection was evaluated. To classify patients into GFR < 60 ml/min/1.73 m(2), the best sensitivity and NVP were obtained with sMDRD: the best PPV and specificity with MCQ. P30 was 99.3% with sMDRD, 77.5% CCl, 91.7% CG, 96.7% CGi, and 77.2% with MCQ. The lowest bias was for sMDRD and the highest for CCl. Only 159 (52.6%) urine collections were considered adequate, and when these patients were re-evaluated, the statistical results improved for CCl. CGi was better in general than CG. CCl should not be considered as an adequate GFR estimation. Ideal weight is better than real weight to calculate GFR through CG in patients with SLE.

Homologies and heterogeneity between Rheumatology Congresses: Mexican, American College of Rheumatology and European League Against Rheumatism. / Análisis de homologías y heterogeneidad entre congresos de Reumatología: mexicanos, ACR y EULAR.

BACKGROUND: Medical meetings are a tool to help physicians advance and update their medical knowledge. Their quality is the responsibility of colleges and institutions. OBJECTIVE: To assess and compare the academic level of four different annual rheumatology meetings. MATERIAL AND METHODS: As a source of information, we used the abstracts published in the supplements of the journal Reumatología Clínica, SE1 Vol. 12, issued in February 2016, SE 1 Vol. 13 issued in February 2017, the electronic application of the 2016 ACR/ARHP of the 2016 American Congress of Rheumatology, devoted to the works presented at the 44th Mexican Congress of Rheumatology (CMR 44), the 45th Mexican Congress of Rheumatology (CMR 45), and the 2016 ACR/ARHP Annual Meeting (ACR 2016), as well as the Web page on the files and abstracts of EULAR 2017, respectively; from each work we compiled information on the major disease being referred to, the type of information provided and the type of report. We should point out that some were combined conditions or designs, from which we selected that which we considered to be the most important. RESULTS: In all, 275, 340, 3275 and 4129 studies were submitted to the XLIV Mexican Congress of Rheumatology, XLV Mexican Congress of Rheumatology, the 2016 ACR/ARHP Annual Meeting and EULAR 2017, respectively. Rheumatoid arthritis was the most common disorder, dealt with in 23%, 26%, 21% and 27% in CMR 44, CMR 45, 2016 ACR and EULAR 2017, respectively, followed by systemic lupus erythematosus; in third place, Mexican congresses reported trials related to systemic vasculitis, whereas spondylitis was the main subject of international congresses. In the case of rheumatoid arthritis, clinical topics accounted for 30% in the Mexican congresses and ACR, and nearly 20% in EULAR. Observational studies accounted for 40% in the Mexican congresses vs. 33% in 2016 ACR and 55% in EULAR 2017. Studies on basic science were minimal in the Mexican congress, whereas in 2016 ACR, they represented 21% and 12% in EULAR 2017. CONCLUSION: Rheumatology meetings constitute a tool to obtain adequate evidence-based medical knowledge in this important branch of medicine. For our Mexican Congress, we should encourage collaborative efforts between institutions, which will result in a greater number of controlled studies, clinical trials and basic studies that support the quality of the congress. We wish to emphasize that a greater diffusion of other musculoskeletal diseases is needed, not only autoimmune diseases, since the former represent an important percentage of the daily practice.

Análisis de homologías y heterogeneidad entre congresos de Reumatología: mexicanos, ACR y EULAR / Homologies and heterogeneity between Rheumatology Congresses: Mexican, American College of Rheumatology and European League Against Rheumatism

INTRODUCCIÓN: Los congresos médicos representan una herramienta que favorece la actualización permanente del médico; su calidad es obligación de los colegios e instituciones. OBJETIVO: Evaluar el contenido académico de 4 congresos internacionales de Reumatología. MATERIALES Y MÉTODOS: Se utilizó como fuente de información los resúmenes publicados en los suplementos de la revista Reumatología Clínica, SE1 Vol. 12 del mes de febrero de 2016, el suplemento SE 1 Vol. 13 del mes de febrero de 2017, la aplicación para medios electrónicos del ACR/ARHP 2016 del Congreso Americano de Reumatología 2016 dedicado a los trabajos presentados en el XLIV Congreso Mexicano de Reumatología (CMR 44), XLV Congreso Mexicano de Reumatología (CMR 45) y del 2016 ACR/ARHP Annual Meeting (ACR 2016), y la página electrónica de archivos y resúmenes de EULAR 2017, respectivamente; de cada trabajo se obtuvo información referente a la principal patología referida, el tipo de información contenida y el tipo de trabajo. Cabe resaltar que algunos eran patologías o diseños combinados de los cuales se seleccionó el que a nuestro juicio era el más importante. RESULTADOS: Se presentaron 275, 340, 3275 y 4129 estudios en el CMR 44, CMR 45, ACR 2016, EULAR 2017, respectivamente. La artritis reumatoide fue la patología con mayor número de trabajos con 23, 26, 21 y 27% en el CMR 44, CMR 45 y ACR 2016 y EULAR 2017 respectivamente, seguida por informes sobre lupus eritematoso sistémico; en tercer lugar, en los congresos mexicanos destacan reportes sobre vasculitis, mientras en los congresos internacionales lo ocupan las espondiloartropatías. De resaltar que en el caso de artritis reumatoide los tópicos sobre clínica representan alrededor del 30% en los congresos mexicanos y ACR, y casi el 20% en EULAR. Los estudios observacionales representaron el 40% en los congresos mexicanos vs. 33% en el ACR 2016 y 55% en EULAR 2017, por otro lado, los estudios sobre ciencia básica fueron mínimos en los congresos mexicanos mientras que en ACR 2016 representan el 21% y en EULAR 12%. CONCLUSIONES: Los congresos de Reumatología constituyen fuente adecuada para la obtención de conocimientos basados en evidencia. Para estudios mexicanos requerimos de fomentar el esfuerzo de colaboración entre instituciones, que reditúen en mayor número de estudios controlados, ensayos clínicos y estudios básicos que apuntalen la calidad del congreso. Se debe hacer conciencia que hace falta mayor difusión del resto de enfermedades del aparato locomotor, y no solo las patologías autoinmunes, ya que las primeras constituyen un porcentaje importante de la práctica diaria

BACKGROUND: Medical meetings are a tool to help physicians advance and update their medical knowledge. Their quality is the responsibility of colleges and institutions. OBJECTIVE: To assess and compare the academic level of four different annual rheumatology meetings. MATERIAL AND METHODS: As a source of information, we used the abstracts published in the supplements of the journal Reumatología Clínica, SE1 Vol. 12, issued in February 2016, SE 1 Vol. 13 issued in February 2017, the electronic application of the 2016 ACR/ARHP of the 2016 American Congress of Rheumatology, devoted to the works presented at the 44th Mexican Congress of Rheumatology (CMR 44), the 45th Mexican Congress of Rheumatology (CMR 45), and the 2016 ACR/ARHP Annual Meeting (ACR 2016), as well as the Web page on the files and abstracts of EULAR 2017, respectively; from each work we compiled information on the major disease being referred to, the type of information provided and the type of report. We should point out that some were combined conditions or designs, from which we selected that which we considered to be the most important. RESULTS: In all, 275, 340, 3275 and 4129 studies were submitted to the XLIV Mexican Congress of Rheumatology, XLV Mexican Congress of Rheumatology, the 2016 ACR/ARHP Annual Meeting and EULAR 2017, respectively. Rheumatoid arthritis was the most common disorder, dealt with in 23%, 26%, 21% and 27% in CMR 44, CMR 45, 2016 ACR and EULAR 2017, respectively, followed by systemic lupus erythematosus; in third place, Mexican congresses reported trials related to systemic vasculitis, whereas spondylitis was the main subject of international congresses. In the case of rheumatoid arthritis, clinical topics accounted for 30% in the Mexican congresses and ACR, and nearly 20% in EULAR. Observational studies accounted for 40% in the Mexican congresses vs. 33% in 2016 ACR and 55% in EULAR 2017. Studies on basic science were minimal in the Mexican congress, whereas in 2016 ACR, they represented 21% and 12% in EULAR 2017. CONCLUSION: Rheumatology meetings constitute a tool to obtain adequate evidence-based medical knowledge in this important branch of medicine. For our Mexican Congress, we should encourage collaborative efforts between institutions, which will result in a greater number of controlled studies, clinical trials and basic studies that support the quality of the congress. We wish to emphasize that a greater diffusion of other musculoskeletal diseases is needed, not only autoimmune diseases, since the former represent an important percentage of the daily practice

Pulmonary manifestations of granulomatosis with polyangiitis.

OBJECTIVE: To describe the clinical and laboratory data, with special emphasis on thoracic imaging findings, in 14 patients with a definitive diagnosis of granulomatosis with polyangiitis (GPA). METHODS: The clinical and tomographic data of 14 patients with a definitive diagnosis of GPA are presented. Patients with thoracic manifestations suggestive of GPA were evaluated in 3 hospitals from 2000 to 2012. All patients had a sputum analysis and bronchoalveolar lavage for bacterial, mycobacterial and fungal stains and cultures; antineutrophil cytoplasmic antibodies, antinuclear-antibodies, rheumatoid factor, and a biopsy of involved organs. RESULTS: A total of 13 patients had at least two organs involved. The most frequent thoracic findings were pulmonary nodules, ground glass opacities and patches of consolidation; other abnormalities were tracheal stenosis, diffuse alveolar hemorrhage, lung masses with organized pneumonia. More than three-quarters (78%) of patients had positive antineutrophil cytoplasmic antibodies (ANCA). Ten patients had respiratory tissue biopsy (8 open lung, one tracheal, and one nasal). In 4 patients the diagnosis was made with the classic organ involvement in GPA, positive ANCA, and renal or skin biopsy, and response to treatment on follow-up. At 6-12 months all patients showed clinical and radiological improvement, with 54% showing a recurrence of disease. DISCUSSION: The majority of thoracic findings described in GPA are presented in this study. A complete diagnostic approach with invasive diagnostic procedures to rule out other more prevalent respiratory diseases with similar thoracic manifestations must be performed. The positivity of ANCA in this study was high, and the recurrence of the disease was frequent.

Treating severe systemic lupus erythematosus with rituximab. An open study.

Systemic lupus erythematosus (SLE) is an autoimmune disease that may be associated to high morbidity and mortality. Disease course is variable and unpredictable and although the prognosis and survival of these patients has dramatically improved, treatment of severe multiorganic organic affection in this condition remains a therapeutic challenge. Since B lymphocytes have an important role in the pathogenesis of SLE, it is expected that the targeting of these cells exerts a significant therapeutic effect in SLE patients with severe multiorganic manifestations. In an open clinical trial, we have explored the therapeutic potential of Rituximab (an anti-CD20 monoclonal antibody) administration in SLE patients with severe nephritis (n=22) or neuropsychiatric manifestations (n=6) or massive pulmonary hemorrhage (n=3). In most cases, we observed significant improvement in both clinical and laboratory parameters, with good tolerance and few side effects. Thus, patients with severe lupus nephritis showed improvement in disease activity (MEX-SLEDAI index) with a significant reduction (p<0.05), as well as proteinuria in most of them (from 3.710g/L to 1.786g/L, p<0.05); patients with serious neurologic involvement had complete remission of their manifestations; but those with pulmonary massive hemorrhage did not have any response. Rituximab could have an important therapeutic potential in severe SLE, and that it is necessary to carry out a controlled blinded clinical trial to further support this point.

Manifestaciones pulmonares de la granulomatosis con poliangitis / Pulmonary manifestations of granulomatosis with polyangiitis

Objetivo. Describir las diversas manifestaciones clínicas, de laboratorio e imagenológicas torácicas en 14 pacientes con poliangeítis granulomatosa (Wegener) (PAG). Material y métodos. Presentamos los datos clínicos, de laboratorio e imagen de pacientes con diagnóstico de PAG. Se incluyeron pacientes con manifestaciones torácicas sugerentes de PAG evaluados en 3 hospitales entre los años 2000 y 2012. A todos los pacientes les realizamos tinciones y cultivos bacteriológicos, para micobacterias y hongos, en expectoración y lavado broncoalveolar; anticuerpos anticitoplasma de neutrófilos (ANCA), anticuerpos antinucleares, factor reumatoide y biopsia de órganos afectados. Resultados. Trece pacientes tuvieron afección de por lo menos 2 órganos. Las manifestaciones torácicas fueron nódulos pulmonares, opacidades en vidrio esmerilado y parches de consolidación; otras anormalidades fueron estenosis de tráquea, hemorragia alveolar difusa, masas pulmonares con neumonía organizada. El 78% tuvo ANCA positivos (la mayoría c-ANCA). A 10 pacientes se les realizó biopsia de tejido respiratorio (8 de pulmón, una de tráquea y una nasal). En 4 pacientes el diagnóstico se sustentó con la afección de diversos órganos, ANCA positivos, biopsia de riñón o piel y respuesta a tratamiento. A los 6-12 meses todos los pacientes mostraron mejoría clínica e imagenológica, y el 54% de 11 pacientes en seguimiento presentaron recaída. Conclusiones. En esta serie de casos presentamos la mayoría de las manifestaciones radiológicas torácicas descritas en pacientes con PAG. Enfatizamos el realizar un abordaje diagnóstico ordenado para descartar otras patologías con prevalencia más alta que se expresan con manifestaciones pulmonares similares. La frecuencia de ANCA positivos fue elevada y la recurrencia de enfermedad, frecuente (AU)

Objective: To describe the clinical and laboratory data, with special emphasis on thoracic imaging findings, in 14 patients with a definitive diagnosis of granulomatosis with polyangiitis (GPA). Methods: The clinical and tomographic data of 14 patients with a definitive diagnosis of GPA are presented. Patients with thoracic manifestations suggestive of GPA were evaluated in 3 hospitals from 2000 to 2012. All patients had a sputum analysis and bronchoalveolar lavage for bacterial, mycobacterial and fungal stains and cultures; antineutrophil cytoplasmic antibodies, antinuclear-antibodies, rheumatoid factor, and a biopsy of involved organs. Results: A total of 13 patients had at least two organs involved. The most frequent thoracic findings were pulmonary nodules, ground glass opacities and patches of consolidation; other abnormalities were tracheal stenosis, diffuse alveolar hemorrhage, lung masses with organized pneumonia. More than three- quarters (78%) of patients had positive antineutrophil cytoplasmic antibodies (ANCA). Ten patients had respiratory tissue biopsy (8 open lung, one tracheal, and one nasal). In 4 patients the diagnosis was made with the classic organ involvement in GPA, positive ANCA, and renal or skin biopsy, and response to treatment on follow-up. At 6-12 months all patients showed clinical and radiological improvement, with 54% showing a recurrence of disease. Discussion: The majority of thoracic findings described in GPA are presented in this study. A complete diagnostic approach with invasive diagnostic procedures to rule out other more prevalent respiratory diseases with similar thoracic manifestations must be performed. The positivity of ANCA in this study was high, and the recurrence of the disease was frequent (AU)

Treating severe systemic lupus erythematosus with rituximab. An open study / Tratamiento del Lupus Eritematoso Severo con Rituximab. Un estudio abierto

Systemic lupus erythematosus (SLE) is an autoimmune disease that may be associated to high morbidity and mortality. Disease course is variable and unpredictable and although the prognosis and survival of these patients has dramatically improved, treatment of severe multiorganic organic affection in this condition remains a therapeutic challenge. Since B lymphocytes have an important role in the pathogenesis of SLE, it is expected that the targeting of these cells exerts a significant therapeutic effect in SLE patients with severe multiorganic manifestations. In an open clinical trial, we have explored the therapeutic potential of Rituximab (an anti-CD20 monoclonal antibody) administration in SLE patients with severe nephritis (n=22) or neuropsychiatric manifestations (n=6) or massive pulmonary hemorrhage (n=3). In most cases, we observed significant improvement in both clinical and laboratory parameters, with good tolerance and few side effects. Thus, patients with severe lupus nephritis showed improvement in disease activity (MEX-SLEDAI index) with a significant reduction (p<0.05), as well as proteinuria in most of them (from 3.710g/L to 1.786g/L, p<0.05); patients with serious neurologic involvement had complete remission of their manifestations; but those with pulmonary massive hemorrhage did not have any response. Rituximab could have an important therapeutic potential in severe SLE, and that it is necessary to carry out a controlled blinded clinical trial to further support this point (AU)

El lupus eritematoso siste´mico es un padecimiento con bases autoinmunes que puede asociarse a elevada morbilidad y mortalidad. El curso es variable e impredecible, y aunque el prono´ stico y la supervivencia de los pacientes han mejorado importantemente, la afeccio´n multiorga´nica puede representar un reto terape´utico. Dado que los linfocitos B tienen un papel protago´nico en esta enfermedad, es esperable que como blanco del tratamiento, pueda resultar en un efecto terape´utico significativo en el lupus eritematoso. En este estudio clı´nico abierto, exploramos el potencial terape´utico de la administracio´n de rituximab (un anticuerpo monoclonal) en pacientes con lupus grave: nefropatı´a (n ¼ 22), manifestaciones neuropsiquia´tricas (n ¼ 6) o hemorragia pulmonar masiva (n ¼ 3). En la mayorı´a de los pacientes, observamos mejorı´a significativa, tanto en los para´metros clı´nicos como de laboratorio y gabinete, con buena tolerancia y pocos eventos adversos. De tal manera que los pacientes con nefropatı´a lu´ pica grave mostraron disminucio´n significativa de la actividad de la enfermedad (MEX-SLEDAI) (po0,05), tambie´n en los niveles de proteinuria (de 3.710 g/L a 1.786 g/L, po0,05); los pacientes con afeccio´n neurolo´ gica grave tuvieron remisio´n completa de sus manifestaciones, aunque en aquellos con hemorragia pulmonar masiva no observamos respuesta alguna. Rituximab pudiera tener un importante potencial terape´utico en los pacientes con lupus grave; es necesario el realizar un estudio clı´nico doble ciego controlado a largo plazo que ratifique nuestros hallazgos (AU)