Relationship between bone disorders and stroke.

Bone disorders are among the most uncommon causes of stroke, but they should be considered as stroke cause in particular clinical scenarios. On the other hand, osteoporosis/osteopenia and increased fracture risk are well documented post stroke complications. The relationship between stroke and bone health is complex. The current facts suggest that these two conditions share same risk factors, but also are risk factors for each other. However, the evidence shows more clear effect of stroke on the bone health, than in the opposite direction. This extensive review is aiming to fill the huge gap of evidence about this topic, and since bone pathology is extremely rare cause of cerebrovascular accident, although a complex connection between these two conditions definitely exists.

Arterial hypertension treated with angiotensin converting enzyme inhibitors and glucocorticoids are independent risk factors associated with decreased glomerular filtration rate in systemic sclerosis.

The aim of this study was to estimate prevalence and severity of renal insufficiency in systemic sclerosis (SSc) and to assess risk factors associated with reduced glomerular filtration rate (GFR) in SSc patients. Seventy-three consecutive patients with SSc (67 women and 6 men), mean age 56.2 years, mean disease duration 6.7 years, were included in this cross-sectional study. GFR was measured by creatinine clearance (CCr) in all patients, as well as 24-h proteinuria. We assessed frequency and severity of renal insufficiency in our patients with SSc and estimated the association of renal insufficiency with age, disease duration, subtype of the disease, earlier diagnosed arterial hypertension, and medications for which we assumed to affect renal function-cytostatics, nonsteroidal anti-inflammatory drugs, glucocorticoids, ACE inhibitors, diuretics, and calcium channel blockers (CCB). Fifty-six out of 73 patients with SSc (76.7%) had reduced GFR (CCr lower than 90 ml/min), compared to 17/73 (23.3%) of patients with normal renal function. Mild renal insufficiency was noticed in 28/73 (38.4%), moderate in 21/73 (28.8%) and severe renal insufficiency in 5/73 (6.8%). End-stage renal disease (CCr < 15 ml/min) was found in 2/73 (2.7%) of patients. Using the univariate general linear statistical model, we have found that previously diagnosed arterial hypertension and treatment with glucocorticoids are independent risk factors for reduced GFR. On the other hand, age, disease duration, disease form, as well as antibodies (anticentromere antibodies-ACA and anti-topoisomerase I antibodies-ATA) were excluded as independent risk factors. Patients with SSc and arterial hypertension treated with CCB had significantly higher mean CCr than patients treated with diuretics (90.4 vs 53.5 ml/min, p = 0.03), or patients treated with ACE inhibitors (90.4 vs 41.7 ml/min, p = 0.001). Decreased GFR is common in SSc. Most of patients have mild or moderate renal insufficiency. Previously diagnosed arterial hypertension, especially when treated with ACE inhibitors or diuretics, and glucocorticoids are independent risk factors associated with reduced GFR in SSc. These medications should be therefore used with caution in SSc patients.