The role of intra-articular injection of autologous platelet-rich plasma versus corticosteroids in the treatment of synovitis in lumbar facet joint disease.

OBJECTIVES: To compare the efficacy between platelet-rich plasma (PRP) and corticosteroids (CS) in improving magnetic resonance imaging (MRI)-detected synovitis in correlation with clinical complaints among patients with lumbar facet joint (FJ) disease. METHODS: This study was carried out at Eldemerdash Hospital, Cairo, Egypt between September 2019 and January 2021. A prospective, randomized, comparative, single blinded study included 30 patients with lumbar FJ disease, divided into 2 equal groups, received PRP and CS injections. Patients were comparatively assessed before and after the intervention according to number of tender lumbar FJs, maximum active lumbar extension range of motion, LBP visual analogue score, LBP functional disability questionnaires and MRI lumbar FJ detected synovitis and their grading. RESULTS: Both groups showed a significant improvement in all mentioned parameters at follow-up after 3 months. However, PRP injections promoted better performance in terms of MRI synovitis grade in all lumbar FJ levels compared to CS injections. CONCLUSION: Both PRP and CS injections were effective in improving MRI-detected FJ synovitis while concurrently improving all examined parameters at follow-up after 3 months. However, PRP promoted better improvement in MRI-detected synovitis grade, suggesting that it may be a better treatment option for longer duration efficacy.TRN: NCT04860531- 1/3/2021.

Neutrophil to lymphocyte and platelet to lymphocyte ratios in systemic lupus erythematosus: Relation with disease activity and lupus nephritis / Relación neutrófilos/linfocitos y plaquetas/linfocitos con actividad y nefropatía en el lupus eritematoso sistémico

OBJECTIVES: To investigate the role of neutrophil to lymphocyte ratio (NLR) and platelet to lymphocyte ratio (PLR) as activity markers in systemic lupus erythematosus (SLE) without nephritis and lupus nephritis (LN) patients. PATIENTS AND METHODS: This study included 60 SLE patients with LN, 60 SLE patients without renal involvement and 30 healthy controls. We analyzed correlations between NLR and PLR and both disease activity and renal affection. RESULTS: The NLR of SLE patients was much higher than those of the controls. Both ratios showed significantly increased values in SLE patients with active disease. NLR and PLR were positively correlated with SLEDAI, ESR, and CRP and negatively correlated with C4. SLE patients with LN had higher levels of NLR than those without nephritis. NLR showed positive correlations with BUN, serum urea, serum creatinine and 24h urinary protein. We found NLR to be related to anti-ds-DNA level and renal biopsy classes. While PLR was related only to anti ds-DNA. The best NLR to predict SLE active disease was 2.2 and the best PLR cut-off value was 132.9. CONCLUSION: NLR and PLR are useful inflammatory markers to evaluate disease activity in SLE patients. Also, NLR could reflect renal involvement in SLE patients and is associated with the different classes of its histological staging

OBJETIVOS: Investigar el papel de la proporción de neutrófilos a linfocitos (NLR), y la relación de plaquetas a linfocitos (PLR) como marcadores de actividad en el lupus eritematoso sistémico (LES) sin nefritis, y pacientes con nefritis lúpica (NL). PACIENTES Y MÉTODOS: Este estudio incluyó a 60 pacientes con LES con NL, 60 pacientes con LES sin afectación renal y 30 controles sanos. Analizamos las correlaciones entre NLR y PLR con la actividad de la enfermedad y la afección renal. RESULTADOS: La NLR de los pacientes con LES fue mucho más alta que los de los controles. Ambas razones mostraron valores significativamente mayores en pacientes con LES con enfermedad activa. La NLR y la PLR se correlacionaron positivamente con SLEDAI, ESR y CRP y se correlacionaron negativamente con C4. Los pacientes con LES con LN tenían niveles más altos de NLR que aquellos sin nefritis. La NLR mostró correlaciones positivas con BUN, urea sérica, creatinina sérica y proteína urinaria de 24h. Encontramos que la NLR está relacionada con el nivel de anti-dsDNA y las clases de biopsia renal. Mientras que la PLR estaba relacionada solo con anti-dsDNA. La mejor NLR para predecir la enfermedad activa del SLE fue de 2,2 y el mejor valor de corte de la PLR fue 132,9. CONCLUSIÓN: La NLR y la PLR son marcadores inflamatorios útiles para evaluar la actividad de la enfermedad en pacientes con LES. Además, la NLR podría reflejar la afectación renal en pacientes con LES y se asocia con las diferentes clases de su estadificación histológica

Neutrophil to lymphocyte and platelet to lymphocyte ratios in systemic lupus erythematosus: Relation with disease activity and lupus nephritis.

OBJECTIVES: To investigate the role of neutrophil to lymphocyte ratio (NLR) and platelet to lymphocyte ratio (PLR) as activity markers in systemic lupus erythematosus (SLE) without nephritis and lupus nephritis (LN) patients. PATIENTS AND METHODS: This study included 60 SLE patients with LN, 60 SLE patients without renal involvement and 30 healthy controls. We analyzed correlations between NLR and PLR and both disease activity and renal affection. RESULTS: The NLR of SLE patients was much higher than those of the controls. Both ratios showed significantly increased values in SLE patients with active disease. NLR and PLR were positively correlated with SLEDAI, ESR, and CRP and negatively correlated with C4. SLE patients with LN had higher levels of NLR than those without nephritis. NLR showed positive correlations with BUN, serum urea, serum creatinine and 24h urinary protein. We found NLR to be related to anti-ds-DNA level and renal biopsy classes. While PLR was related only to anti ds-DNA. The best NLR to predict SLE active disease was 2.2 and the best PLR cut-off value was 132.9. CONCLUSION: NLR and PLR are useful inflammatory markers to evaluate disease activity in SLE patients. Also, NLR could reflect renal involvement in SLE patients and is associated with the different classes of its histological staging.