Depression and anxiety in systemic lupus erythematosus: A case-control study on prevalence and associated factors in a single-center cohort.

OBJECTIVES: To evaluate the prevalence of self-perceived depression and anxiety in patients with systemic lupus erythematosus (SLE) and to explore associated factors. METHODS: Cross-sectional study of unselected patients with SLE (ACR-97 criteria) and controls with chronic inflammatory rheumatic diseases. Both completed the Hospital Anxiety and Depression Scale (HADS). Demographic and clinical characteristics, comorbidity, and treatments were collected, and a multivariate analysis was performed to explore factors associated with depression and anxiety in SLE. RESULTS: The study population comprised 172 patients and 215 controls. Women accounted for 93% of the patients with SLE. Fibromyalgia was recorded in 12.8% and a history of depression in 17%. According to HADS, 37.2% fulfilled the diagnostic criteria for depression and 58.7% those for anxiety; prevalence was similar in the controls (32.6% and 55.1%, respectively). Up to a third of patients with self-perceived depression were not receiving antidepressants. There was no concordance between a previous history of depression and current depression. In the multivariate model, current depression was associated with single marital status (OR 2.69; 95% CI: 1.17-6.42; p = .022), fibromyalgia (7.69; 2.35-30.72; p = .001), smoking (3.12; 1.24-8.07; p = .016), severity of SLE (0.76; 0.6-0.94; p = .016), and organ damage (1.27; 1.01-1.61; p = .042). Current anxiety was only associated with fibromyalgia (3.97; 1.21-17.98; p = .036). CONCLUSIONS: Depression and anxiety are most likely underdiagnosed in SLE. Prevalence appears to be similar to that of other chronic inflammatory rheumatic diseases. Anxiety is associated with fibromyalgia, while depression is also associated with single marital status, smoking, organ damage, and severity of SLE.

Tobacco smoking is an independent factor associated with retinal damage in systemic lupus erythematosus: a cross-sectional and retrospective study.

To analyze the influence of tobacco smoking on systemic lupus erythematosus (SLE) clinical features and damage. Cross-sectional and retrospective, case-control study comparing SLE patients with and without tobacco exposure. Cumulative clinical data and comorbidities were collected, and severity (Katz index) and damage (SLICC/ACR damage index) (SDI) indices were calculated. Pack-years (PY) was used to estimate lifetime tobacco exposure. A logistic regression was carried out to explore the impact of tobacco use on retinal damage. 216 patients were included. The mean age was 49 years (± 12.7), 93% were females, and median disease duration was 17 years [interquartile range (IQR):9-25]. Fifty-three percent of patients were smokers at some point. The median PY was 13 (IQR: 6-20.5). Only 54.8% of active smokers recalled having been informed of the negative effects of smoking, versus 83.3% of never smokers (< 0.001). In a bivariant analysis, an association between tobacco use at any time and discoid lupus [OR: 3.5(95%CI 1.5-8.9); p = 0.002] photosensitivity [OR: 2.06(95%CI 1.16-3.7); p = 0.01] and peripheral arteriopathy (p = 0.007) was found. Considering SDI item by item, a significant association with retinal damage, adjusted for age [OR: 1.03(95%CI 1-1.07); p = 0.04], was found. Using PYs, an association was found with discoid lupus (p = 0.01), photosensitivity (p = 0.03) and peripheral arteriopathy (p = 0.01), global SDI > 0 (p = 0.002) and retinal damage (p = 0.02). In a multivariate analysis exploring factors associated with retinal damage, any previous smoking history and SDI remained associated with retinal damage. Tobacco smoking is associated with cutaneous manifestations and damage and is an independent predictor of retinal damage in SLE patients.

Prevalence and factors associated with osteoporosis and fragility fractures in patients with primary Sjögren syndrome.

This study aimed at determining socio-demographic and clinical factors of primary Sjögren syndrome (pSS) associated with osteoporosis (OP) and fragility fracture. SJOGRENSER is a cross-sectional study of patients with pSS, classified according to American European consensus criteria developed in 33 Spanish rheumatology departments. Epidemiological, clinical, serological and treatment data were collected and a descriptive analysis was conducted. Bivariate and multivariate analyses were performed using a binomial logistic regression to study the factors associated with OP and fragility fracture in pSS. 437 patients were included (95% women, with a median age of 58.6 years). 300 women were menopausal (76.4%). Prevalence of OP was 18.5% [in men (N = 21) this measured 19%]. A total of 37 fragility fractures were recorded. In the multivariate analysis, there was an association between OP and age: in the 51-64 age range (menopausal women), the OR measured 9.993 (95% CI 2301-43,399, p = 0.002); In the age > 64 years group, OR was 20.610 (4.679-90.774, p < 0.001); between OP and disease duration, OR was 1.046 (1.008-1085, p = 0.017); past treatment with corticosteroids, OR 2.548 (1.271-5.105, p = 0.008). Similarly, an association was found between fragility fractures and age: in the 51-64 age group, OR measured 5.068 (1.117-22,995, p = 0.035), age > 64 years, OR was 7.674 (1.675-35,151, p < 0.009); disease duration, OR 1.049 (CI 1.003-1097, p < 0.036) and the ESSDAI index, OR 1.080 (1.029-1134, p = 0.002). Patients with pSS can develop osteoporosis and fragility fractures over the course of the disease. Age, corticosteroids treatment and disease duration were associated with the development of OP. Disease duration and ESSDAI were associated with the development of fractures in patients with pSS.

Relationship between damage clustering and mortality in systemic lupus erythematosus in early and late stages of the disease: cluster analyses in a large cohort from the Spanish Society of Rheumatology Lupus Registry.

OBJECTIVES: To identify patterns (clusters) of damage manifestations within a large cohort of SLE patients and evaluate the potential association of these clusters with a higher risk of mortality. METHODS: This is a multicentre, descriptive, cross-sectional study of a cohort of 3656 SLE patients from the Spanish Society of Rheumatology Lupus Registry. Organ damage was ascertained using the Systemic Lupus International Collaborating Clinics Damage Index. Using cluster analysis, groups of patients with similar patterns of damage manifestations were identified. Then, overall clusters were compared as well as the subgroup of patients within every cluster with disease duration shorter than 5 years. RESULTS: Three damage clusters were identified. Cluster 1 (80.6% of patients) presented a lower amount of individuals with damage (23.2 vs 100% in clusters 2 and 3, P < 0.001). Cluster 2 (11.4% of patients) was characterized by musculoskeletal damage in all patients. Cluster 3 (8.0% of patients) was the only group with cardiovascular damage, and this was present in all patients. The overall mortality rate of patients in clusters 2 and 3 was higher than that in cluster 1 (P < 0.001 for both comparisons) and in patients with disease duration shorter than 5 years as well. CONCLUSION: In a large cohort of SLE patients, cardiovascular and musculoskeletal damage manifestations were the two dominant forms of damage to sort patients into clinically meaningful clusters. Both in early and late stages of the disease, there was a significant association of these clusters with an increased risk of mortality. Physicians should pay special attention to the early prevention of damage in these two systems.

Results of a specific smoking cessation program for patients with arthritis in a rheumatology clinic.

The purpose of this study is to evaluate an intervention program in smoker patients. We selected consecutive active smoker patients with rheumatoid arthritis, spondyloarthritis, or connective tissue diseases. The intervention consisted of the following: (1) a baseline visit, which included verbal and written advice by the rheumatologist, emphasizing the practical benefits of smoking cessation. Patients completed a questionnaire that included smoking dependence tests and previous attempts to quit. (2) A follow-up visit to the nurse in the 3rd month for reinforcement and the receiving of pharmacological treatment to help patients quit smoking. The primary outcome was total abstinence in the last 7 days of a phone interview at 3, 6, and 12 months. The secondary outcome was a reduction in cigarette consumption by at least 50%. A total of 945 patients were screened. About 185 (19.5%) were current smokers, and 152 were included for intervention. In the previous 5 years, the mean annual withdrawal rate was 4.6%. The smoking cessation rate was 11.8, 14.4, and 15.7% at 3, 6, and 12 months (OR compared with previous cessation rate 3.8 (CI 95% 1.8-8.1)). Twenty-nine patients (19%) reduced ≥50% of the cigarette consumption at 12 months. The linear regression analysis showed that a score of less dependence (p = 0.03) and previous attempts to quit smoking (p = 0.04) were significantly associated with definitive smoking cessation at 12 months. One out of six patients quit smoking with the aid of an educational program which included verbal and written advice by the rheumatologist and the nurse. As far as we know, this is the first interventional study in smoker patients with arthritis.

Combined use of QRISK3 and SCORE2 increases identification of ankylosing spondylitis patients at high cardiovascular risk: Results from the CARMA Project cohort after 7.5 years of follow-up.

OBJECTIVE: To establish the predictive value of the QRESEARCH risk estimator version 3 (QRISK3) algorithm in identifying Spanish patients with ankylosing spondylitis (AS) at high risk of cardiovascular (CV) events and CV mortality. We also sought to determine whether to combine QRISK3 with another CV risk algorithm: the traditional SCORE, the modified SCORE (mSCORE) EULAR 2015/2016 or the SCORE2 may increase the identification of AS patients with high-risk CV disease. METHODS: Information of 684 patients with AS from the Spanish prospective CARdiovascular in ReuMAtology (CARMA) project who at the time of the initial visit had no history of CV events and were followed in rheumatology outpatient clinics of tertiary centers for 7.5 years was reviewed. The risk chart algorithms were retrospectively tested using baseline data. RESULTS: After 4,907 years of follow-up, 33 AS patients had experienced CV events. Linearized rate=6.73 per 1000 person-years (95 % CI: 4.63, 9.44). The four CV risk scales were strongly correlated. QRISK3 correctly discriminated between people with lower and higher CV risk, although the percentage of accumulated events over 7.5 years was clearly lower than expected according to the risk established by QRISK3. Also, mSCORE EULAR 2015/2016 showed the same discrimination ability as SCORE, although the percentage of predicted events was clearly higher than the percentage of actual events. SCORE2 also had a strong discrimination capacity according to CV risk. Combining QRISK3 with any other scale improved the model. This was especially true for the combination of QRISK3 and SCORE2 which achieved the lowest AIC (406.70) and BIC (415.66), so this combination would be the best predictive model. CONCLUSIONS: In patients from the Spanish CARMA project, the four algorithms tested accurately discriminated those AS patients with higher CV risk and those with lower CV risk. Moreover, a model that includes QRISK3 and SCORE2 combined the best discrimination ability of QRISK3 with the best calibration of SCORE2.

SLESIS-R: an improved score for prediction of serious infection in patients with systemic lupus erythematosus based on the RELESSER prospective cohort.

OBJECTIVE: To develop an improved score for prediction of severe infection in patients with systemic lupus erythematosus (SLE), namely, the SLE Severe Infection Score-Revised (SLESIS-R) and to validate it in a large multicentre lupus cohort. METHODS: We used data from the prospective phase of RELESSER (RELESSER-PROS), the SLE register of the Spanish Society of Rheumatology. A multivariable logistic model was constructed taking into account the variables already forming the SLESIS score, plus all other potential predictors identified in a literature review. Performance was analysed using the C-statistic and the area under the receiver operating characteristic curve (AUROC). Internal validation was carried out using a 100-sample bootstrapping procedure. ORs were transformed into score items, and the AUROC was used to determine performance. RESULTS: A total of 1459 patients who had completed 1 year of follow-up were included in the development cohort (mean age, 49±13 years; 90% women). Twenty-five (1.7%) had experienced ≥1 severe infection. According to the adjusted multivariate model, severe infection could be predicted from four variables: age (years) ≥60, previous SLE-related hospitalisation, previous serious infection and glucocorticoid dose. A score was built from the best model, taking values from 0 to 17. The AUROC was 0.861 (0.777-0.946). The cut-off chosen was ≥6, which exhibited an accuracy of 85.9% and a positive likelihood ratio of 5.48. CONCLUSIONS: SLESIS-R is an accurate and feasible instrument for predicting infections in patients with SLE. SLESIS-R could help to make informed decisions on the use of immunosuppressants and the implementation of preventive measures.

Higher Prevalence and Degree of Insulin Resistance in Patients With Rheumatoid Arthritis Than in Patients With Systemic Lupus Erythematosus.

OBJECTIVE: Since insulin resistance (IR) is highly prevalent in patients with systemic lupus erythematosus (SLE) and rheumatoid arthritis (RA), we aimed to determine whether differences in IR exist between the two conditions. METHODS: We conducted a cross-sectional study comprising 413 subjects without diabetes (186 with SLE and 227 with RA). Glucose, insulin, and C-peptide serum levels, as well as IR by the homeostatic model assessment (HOMA2) were studied. A multivariable regression analysis was performed to evaluate the differences in IR indexes between patients with SLE and RA, as well as to determine if IR risk factors or disease-related characteristics are differentially associated with IR in both populations. RESULTS: The insulin:C-peptide molar ratio was upregulated in patients with RA compared to patients with SLE (ß 0.009, 95% CI 0.005-0.014, P < 0.001) after multivariable analysis. HOMA2 indexes related to insulin sensitivity (HOMA2-%S) were found to be lower (ß -27, 95% CI -46 to -9, P = 0.004) and ß cell function (HOMA2-%B) showed higher IR indexes (ß 38, 95% CI 23-52, P < 0.001) in RA than in SLE patients after multivariable analysis. Patients with RA more often fulfilled the definition of IR than those with SLE (OR 2.15, 95% CI 1.25-3.69, P = 0.005). The size effect of IR factors on IR indexes was found to be equal in both diseases. CONCLUSION: IR sensitivity is lower and ß cell function is higher in RA than in SLE patients. The fact that traditional IR factors have an equal effect on IR in both SLE and RA supports the contention that these differences are related to the diseases themselves.

Role of targeted therapies in rheumatic patients on COVID-19 outcomes: results from the COVIDSER study.

OBJECTIVES: To analyse the effect of targeted therapies, either biological (b) disease-modifying antirheumatic drugs (DMARDs), targeted synthetic (ts) DMARDs and other factors (demographics, comorbidities or COVID-19 symptoms) on the risk of COVID-19 related hospitalisation in patients with inflammatory rheumatic diseases. METHODS: The COVIDSER study is an observational cohort including 7782 patients with inflammatory rheumatic diseases. Multivariable logistic regression was used to estimate ORs and 95% CIs of hospitalisation. Antirheumatic medication taken immediately prior to infection, demographic characteristics, rheumatic disease diagnosis, comorbidities and COVID-19 symptoms were analysed. RESULTS: A total of 426 cases of symptomatic COVID-19 from 1 March 2020 to 13 April 2021 were included in the analyses: 106 (24.9%) were hospitalised and 19 (4.4%) died. In multivariate-adjusted models, bDMARDs and tsDMARDs in combination were not associated with hospitalisation compared with conventional synthetic DMARDs (OR 0.55, 95% CI 0.24 to 1.25 of b/tsDMARDs, p=0.15). Tumour necrosis factor inhibitors (TNF-i) were associated with a reduced likelihood of hospitalisation (OR 0.32, 95% CI 0.12 to 0.82, p=0.018), whereas rituximab showed a tendency to an increased risk of hospitalisation (OR 4.85, 95% CI 0.86 to 27.2). Glucocorticoid use was not associated with hospitalisation (OR 1.69, 95% CI 0.81 to 3.55). A mix of sociodemographic factors, comorbidities and COVID-19 symptoms contribute to patients' hospitalisation. CONCLUSIONS: The use of targeted therapies as a group is not associated with COVID-19 severity, except for rituximab, which shows a trend towards an increased risk of hospitalisation, while TNF-i was associated with decreased odds of hospitalisation in patients with rheumatic disease. Other factors like age, male gender, comorbidities and COVID-19 symptoms do play a role.

Incidence, associated factors and clinical impact of severe infections in a large, multicentric cohort of patients with systemic lupus erythematosus.

OBJECTIVES: To estimate the incidence of severe infection and investigate the associated factors and clinical impact in a large systemic lupus erythematosus (SLE) retrospective cohort. METHODS: All patients in the Spanish Rheumatology Society Lupus Registry (RELESSER) who meet ≥4 ACR-97 SLE criteria were retrospectively investigated for severe infections. Patients with and without infections were compared in terms of SLE severity, damage, comorbidities, and demographic characteristics. A multivariable Cox regression model was built to calculate hazard ratios (HRs) for the first infection. RESULTS: A total of 3658 SLE patients were included: 90% female, median age 32.9 years (DQ 9.7), and mean follow-up (months) 120.2 (±87.6). A total of 705 (19.3%) patients suffered ≥1 severe infection. Total severe infections recorded in these patients numbered 1227. The incidence rate was 29.2 (95% CI: 27.6-30.9) infections per 1000 patient years. Time from first infection to second infection was significantly shorter than time from diagnosis to first infection (p < 0.000). Although respiratory infections were the most common (35.5%), bloodstream infections were the most frequent cause of mortality by infection (42.0%). In the Cox regression analysis, the following were all associated with infection: age at diagnosis (HR = 1.016, 95% CI: 1.009-1.023), Latin-American (Amerindian-Mestizo) ethnicity (HR = 2.151, 95% CI: 1.539-3.005), corticosteroids (≥10mg/day) (HR = 1.271, 95% CI: 1.034-1.561), immunosuppressors (HR = 1.348, 95% CI: 1.079-1.684), hospitalization by SLE (HR = 2.567, 95% CI: 1.905-3.459), Katz severity index (HR = 1.160, 95% CI: 1.105-1.217), SLICC/ACR damage index (HR = 1.069, 95% CI: 1.031-1.108), and smoking (HR = 1.332, 95% CI: 1.121-1.583). Duration of antimalarial use (months) proved protective (HR = 0.998, 95% CI: 0.997-0.999). CONCLUSIONS: Severe infection constitutes a predictor of poor prognosis in SLE patients, is more common in Latin-Americans and is associated with age, previous infection, and smoking. Antimalarials exerted a protective effect.

Comorbidities in Patients With Primary Sjögren's Syndrome and Systemic Lupus Erythematosus: A Comparative Registries-Based Study.

OBJECTIVE: To compare the prevalence of the main comorbidities in 2 large cohorts of patients with primary Sjögren's syndrome (SS) and systemic lupus erythematosus (SLE), with a focus on cardiovascular (CV) diseases. METHODS: This was a cross-sectional multicenter study where the prevalence of more relevant comorbidities in 2 cohorts was compared. Patients under followup from SJOGRENSER (Spanish Rheumatology Society Registry of Primary SS) and RELESSER (Spanish Rheumatology Society Registry of SLE), and who fulfilled the 2002 American-European Consensus Group and 1997 American College of Rheumatology classification criteria, respectively, were included. A binomial logistic regression analysis was carried out to explore potential differences, making general adjustments for age, sex, and disease duration and specific adjustments for each variable, including CV risk factors and treatments, when appropriate. RESULTS: A total of 437 primary SS patients (95% female) and 2,926 SLE patients (89% female) were included. The mean age was 58.6 years (interquartile range [IQR] 50.0-69.9 years) for primary SS patients and 45.1 years (IQR 36.4-56.3 years) for SLE patients (P < 0.001), and disease duration was 10.4 years (IQR 6.0-16.7 years) and 13.0 years (IQR 7.45-19.76 years), respectively (P < 0.001). Smoking, dyslipidemia, and arterial hypertension were associated less frequently with primary SS (odds ratio [OR] 0.36 [95% confidence interval (95% CI) 0.28-0.48], 0.74 [95% CI 0.58-0.94], and 0.50 [95% CI 0.38-0.66], respectively) as were life-threatening CV events (i.e., stroke or myocardial infarction; OR 0.57 [95% CI 0.35-0.92]). Conversely, lymphoma was associated more frequently with primary SS (OR 4.41 [95% CI 1.35-14.43]). The prevalence of severe infection was lower in primary SS than in SLE (10.1% versus 16.9%; OR 0.54 [95% CI 0.39-0.76]; P < 0.001). CONCLUSION: Primary SS patients have a consistently less serious CV comorbidity burden and a lower prevalence of severe infection than those with SLE. In contrast, their risk of lymphoma is greater.

Comprehensive description of clinical characteristics of a large systemic lupus erythematosus cohort from the Spanish Rheumatology Society Lupus Registry (RELESSER) with emphasis on complete versus incomplete lupus differences.

Systemic lupus erythematosus (SLE) is an autoimmune disease characterized by multiple organ involvement and pronounced racial and ethnic heterogeneity. The aims of the present work were (1) to describe the cumulative clinical characteristics of those patients included in the Spanish Rheumatology Society SLE Registry (RELESSER), focusing on the differences between patients who fulfilled the 1997 ACR-SLE criteria versus those with less than 4 criteria (hereafter designated as incomplete SLE (iSLE)) and (2) to compare SLE patient characteristics with those documented in other multicentric SLE registries.RELESSER is a multicenter hospital-based registry, with a collection of data from a large, representative sample of adult patients with SLE (1997 ACR criteria) seen at Spanish rheumatology departments. The registry includes demographic data, comprehensive descriptions of clinical manifestations, as well as information about disease activity and severity, cumulative damage, comorbidities, treatments and mortality, using variables with highly standardized definitions.A total of 4.024 SLE patients (91% with ≥4 ACR criteria) were included. Ninety percent were women with a mean age at diagnosis of 35.4 years and a median duration of disease of 11.0 years. As expected, most SLE manifestations were more frequent in SLE patients than in iSLE ones and every one of the ACR criteria was also associated with SLE condition; this was particularly true of malar rash, oral ulcers and renal disorder. The analysis-adjusted by gender, age at diagnosis, and disease duration-revealed that higher disease activity, damage and SLE severity index are associated with SLE [OR: 1.14; 95% CI: 1.08-1.20 (P < 0.001); 1.29; 95% CI: 1.15-1.44 (P < 0.001); and 2.10; 95% CI: 1.83-2.42 (P < 0.001), respectively]. These results support the hypothesis that iSLE behaves as a relative stable and mild disease. SLE patients from the RELESSER register do not appear to differ substantially from other Caucasian populations and although activity [median SELENA-SLEDA: 2 (IQ: 0-4)], damage [median SLICC/ACR/DI: 1 (IQ: 0-2)], and severity [median KATZ index: 2 (IQ: 1-3)] scores were low, 1 of every 4 deaths was due to SLE activity.RELESSER represents the largest European SLE registry established to date, providing comprehensive, reliable and updated information on SLE in the southern European population.

Vertebral sarcoidosis: clinical and imaging findings.

OBJECTIVE: To report our experience with 3 cases of vertebral sarcoidosis (VS) and review the available literature. METHODS: We retrospectively analyzed 3 patients with VS, with special emphasis on radiologic imaging. The literature was reviewed using the MEDLINE database. RESULTS: In 2 cases, VS was the first manifestation of sarcoidosis. Severe pain was present in all patients. Chest radiographs showed normal results. Therapy with corticosteroids and calcitonin relieved the pain. In 2 patients, the pathologic vertebral magnetic resonance imaging abnormalities normalized with treatment. CONCLUSIONS: Although bone lesions in sarcoidosis may occur throughout the entire skeleton, axial involvement is rare. VS may be the initial presentation of the disease, and pain frequently is present. This condition is usually responsive to glucocorticoids. Magnetic resonance imaging may be helpful in monitoring the response to treatment.

Clinical and immunogenetic factors associated with pneumonia in patients with systemic lupus erythematosus: a case-control study.

OBJECTIVE: To determine the incidence of pneumonia and associated factors in a single-center systemic lupus erythematosus (SLE) cohort. METHODS: We included all our SLE patients [1997 American College of Rheumatology (ACR) criteria] with ≥ 1 pneumonia event, and 196 age and sex-matched SLE controls with no pneumonia events. Cumulative clinical data, weighted Systemic Lupus International Collaborating Clinics/ACR damage index (wSLICC/ACR-DI), comorbidities, and risk factors for pneumonia were retrospectively collected. The standardized incidence ratio (SIR) of pneumonia was estimated. Polymorphisms at genes coding for mannose binding lectin (MBL), MBL-associated serine protease 2, Fc-gamma receptors, and surfactant proteins A1, A2, and D were determined, and their potential association with pneumonia was analyzed. Patients with and without pneumonia were compared using a multivariate logistic regression model for adjustment of pneumonia-associated factors. RESULTS: Thirty-six of 232 patients with SLE had experienced ≥ 1 pneumonia event. SIR for pneumonia was 5.1 (95% CI 3.5-7.4; p < 0.0001). Excluding patients receiving immunosuppressive therapy at the time of pneumonia (13%), associations were found for Katz Severity Index (KSI) (p = 0.016), wSLICC/ACR-DI (p = 0.044), number of SLE criteria (p = 0.005), hospital admissions (p < 0.001), FCGR2A HH genotype (p = 0.03), previous use of immunosuppressive therapy (p = 0.049), cutaneous ulcers (p < 0.001), and vasculitis (p = 0.008) in bivariate analyses. In the multivariate analysis adjusted to previous immunosuppressive treatment, only KSI and FCGR2A HH genotype remained statistically significant (p = 0.05 and p = 0.03, respectively). CONCLUSION: The incidence of pneumonia in patients with SLE is higher than that in the general population, and particularly high in severe SLE, regardless of immunosuppressive therapy. The HH genetic variant of FCGR2A appears to predispose patients with SLE to pneumonia.

[Application of guidelines for secondary prevention of fracture and the FRAX index in patients with fragility fracture]. / Aplicación de las guías de prevención secundaria de fractura osteoporótica y del índice FRAX en una cohorte de pacientes con fractura por fragilidad.

BACKGROUND AND OBJECTIVES: There are different guidelines for secondary prevention of fractures related with osteoporosis. Our aim is to analyse the appliance of such guidelines in a sample of patients with fragility fracture PATIENTS AND METHODS: Adult patients older than 50 years attended in the emergency department with a fragility fracture were invited to participate in a study for secondary prevention. Clinical data and densitometry for the FRAX index were recorded. Current guidelines were employed to calculate the number of patients who needed secondary prevention. RESULTS: With the appliance of current guidelines to 380 patients, 54-100% of women and 26-81% of men were candidates for treatment. For hip fractures the percentage was 81-100% and for forearm fractures 36-93%. FRAX index for hip fracture was ≥3% in 35% of patients. The National Institute for Health and Clinical Excellence and the National Osteoporosis Foundation 2009 were the most restrictive guidelines (54% and 57% respectively). On the other hand the National Guideline Clearinghouse (87%) and the National Osteoporosis Guideline Group (93%). CONCLUSION: There are high differences in the percentage of patients who need treatment to prevent new fractures according to the guidelines. Fewer patients require treatment when the FRAX index is included in a guideline.

Association of the microsatellite in the 3' untranslated region of the CD154 gene with rheumatoid arthritis in females from a Spanish cohort: a case-control study.

CD40-CD154 interaction is an important mediator of inflammation and has been implicated in T helper type 1-mediated autoimmune diseases including rheumatoid arthritis (RA). Linkage studies have shown association of markers in the proximity of the CD154 gene. In the present work we investigated whether specific allele variants of the microsatellite in the 3' UTR of the CD154 gene might modulate the risk of RA. The study, in a case-control setting, included 189 patients and 150 healthy controls from the Canary Islands, Spain. The 24CAs allele was less represented in female patients than in controls (0.444 in controls versus 0.307 in patients, P = 0.006, odds ratio (OR) 0.556, 95% confidence interval (CI) 0.372 to 0.831) but not in males (0.414 versus 0.408), and only when homozygous (P = 0.012; OR 0.35, 95% CI 0.16 to 0.77). We also verified that CD154 association with RA was independent of human leukocyte antigen (HLA) phenotype. A further functional study showed that after stimulation anti-CD3, CD154 mRNA was more stable in CD4+ T lymphocytes from patients with RA bearing the 24CAs allele (mRNA half-life 208 minutes) than in patients without the 24CAs allele (109 minutes, P = 0.009). However, a lower percentage of CD154+CD4+ T lymphocytes was seen in freshly isolated peripheral blood mononuclear cells from patients carrying 24CAs alleles (mean 4.28 versus 8.12; P = 0.033), and also in CD4+ T lymphocytes stimulated with anti-CD3 (median 29.40 versus 47.60; P = 0.025). These results were concordant with the smaller amounts of CD154 mRNA isolated from stimulated T lymphocytes with 24CAs alleles. The CD154 microsatellite therefore seems to affect the expression of the gene in a complex manner that implies not only mRNA stability. These data suggest that the CD154 microsatellite contributes to the regulation of mRNA and protein expression, although further studies will be necessary to elucidate its role in disease predisposition.

Mannose binding lectin polymorphisms as a disease-modulating factor in women with systemic lupus erythematosus from Canary Islands, Spain.

OBJECTIVE: To determine whether mannose binding lectin (MBL) polymorphisms are associated with clinical characteristics and with susceptibility to systemic lupus erythematosus (SLE) in women from the Canary Islands, Spain. METHODS: MBL alleles and genotypes were determined by polymerase chain reaction in 89 female patients and 188 female controls. RESULTS: No differences in the allelic or genotypic frequencies were observed between patients and controls. Anti-U1RNP autoantibodies were less frequent in association with mutated alleles (p = 0.037), and in association with MBL deficient genotypes, although this association was not statistically significant. The patients with low or nonproducer genotypes exhibited a decreased frequency of anti-Sm antibodies (p = 0.059). A nonsignificant trend toward lower prevalence of anti-Sm and anticardiolipin antibodies in association with both mutated alleles and low or nonproducer genotypes was also observed. The prevalence of more than one autoantibody was lower in association with mutated alleles (p = 0.022) and with low or nonproducer genotypes (p = 0.052). Homozygous or heterozygous patients with mutated alleles were significantly older at disease onset and at SLE diagnosis (p = 0.005, p = 0.014, respectively). An increase in the mean age at disease onset and at SLE diagnosis was observed with regard to the number of nonproducer alleles present (p = 0.021, p = 0.038, respectively). CONCLUSION: MBL deficiency is not a risk factor for SLE in women from the Canary Islands, but it is associated with lower prevalence of autoantibodies and with later age at disease onset and at SLE diagnosis.

Aplicación de las guías de prevención secundaria de fractura osteoporótica y del índice FRAX en una cohorte de pacientes con fractura por fragilidad / Application of guidelines for secondary prevention of fracture and the FRAX index

Fundamento y objetivo: Existen distintas guías para la prevención secundaria de fracturas relacionadas con la osteoporosis. El objetivo de este estudio fue analizar su aplicación en una cohorte de pacientes con fractura por fragilidad.Pacientes y método: Los adultos mayores de 50 años registrados en el servicio de urgencias del hospital con fractura por fragilidad fueron invitados a un estudio de prevención secundaria de fractura. Se recogieron los datos clínicos incluidos en el índice FRAX y se realizó densitometría ósea. Para el cálculo de los pacientes candidatos a prevención se emplearon las guías de manejo de la osteoporosis. Resultados: Aplicando las guías de prevención a 380 pacientes incluidos, el porcentaje de candidatos a tratamiento fue del 54-100% en las mujeres y del 26-81% en los varones. En las fracturas de cadera la cifra fue del 81 al 100% y en las de antebrazo del 36 al 93%. El riesgo de fractura de cadera por el índice FRAX fue ≥3% en el 35% de la muestra. Las guías más restrictivas fueron la National Institute for Health and Clinical Excellence y la National Osteoporosis Foundation 2009 (54-57%), a diferencia de la National Guideline Clearinghouse y la National Osteoporosis Guideline Group (87-93%). Conclusiones: Existen diferencias en el porcentaje de pacientes a tratar para prevenir nuevas fracturas según la guía de tratamiento aplicada. La inclusión del FRAX conlleva una reducción de casos a tratarFundamento y objetivo Existen distintas guías para la prevención secundaria de fracturas relacionadas con la osteoporosis. El objetivo de este estudio fue analizar su aplicación en una cohorte de pacientes con fractura por fragilidad (AU)

Background and objectives: There are different guidelines for secondary prevention of fractures relatedwith osteoporosis. Our aim is to analyse the appliance of such guidelines in a sample of patients withfragility fracturePatients and methods: Adult patients older than 50 years attended in the emergency department with afragility fracture were invited to participate in a study for secondary prevention. Clinical data anddensitometry for the FRAX index were recorded. Current guidelines were employed to calculate thenumber of patients who needed secondary prevention.Results: With the appliance of current guidelines to 380 patients, 54-100% of women and 26-81% of menwere candidates for treatment. For hip fractures the percentage was 81-100% and for forearm fractures36-93%. FRAX index for hip fracture was 3% in 35% of patients. The National Institute for Health andClinical Excellence and the National Osteoporosis Foundation 2009 were the most restrictive guidelines(54% and 57% respectively). On the other hand the National Guideline Clearinghouse (87%) and theNational Osteoporosis Guideline Group (93%).Conclusion: There are high differences in the percentage of patients who need treatment to prevent newfractures according to the guidelines. Fewer patients require treatment when the FRAX index is includedin a guideline (AU)