Influence of prevalent vertebral fractures on the quality of life of patients with systemic lupus erythematosus.

BACKGROUND: The prevalence of vertebral fractures in systemic lupus erythematosus (SLE) ranges between 20% and 21.4%, and patients with these fractures have impaired walking and activities of daily living. Moreover, clinical and radiological vertebral fractures have been associated with increased mortality. OBJECTIVES: To compare the quality of life of patients with SLE with and without vertebral fractures. METHODS: The study group comprised 140 women with SLE undergoing screening for vertebral fractures using a standardized method. SLE disease activity and organ damage were measured by the Mexican Systemic Lupus Erythematosus Disease Activity Index (MEX-SLEDAI) and the Systemic International Collaborating Clinics/American College of Rheumatology damage index (SLICC), respectively. The QUALEFFO and Center for Epidemiologic Studies Depression Scale were used to measure health-related quality of life and depression, respectively. RESULTS: The median age of the 140 patients was 43 years (range 18-76); disease duration was 72 months (range 6-432); 49.7% were menopausal. Thirty-four patients (24.8%) had vertebral fractures (> or = 1), mostly in the thoracic spine. Patients with vertebral fractures had a higher mean age (49.5 +/- 13.4 vs. 41 - 13.2 years, P= 0.001) and disease damage (57.1% vs. 34.4%, P = 0.001). The global QUALEFFO score was not different between the vertebral fractures group and the non-vertebral group. The only significant difference in the QUALEFFO items was in physical function (P = 0.04). A significant correlation was found between the severity of vertebral fractures and the QUALEFFO pain (r = 0.27, P = 0.001) and physical function (r = 0.37, P = 0.02) scores. The number of vertebral fractures correlated only with physical function (r = 0.01). CONCLUSIONS: The HRQOL of women with SLE is low, regardless of whether they have vertebral fractures or not, but patients with vertebral fractures have worse physical function compared to those without. Strategies to improve the HRQOL of patients with SLE with or without vertebral fractures are necessary.

Immunopathogenesis of vitiligo.

Vitiligo is a common depigmenting disorder which may have devastating psychological and social consequences and is characterized by the presence of circumscribed white macules in the skin due to the destruction of melanocytes in the epidermis. Various hypotheses have been proposed to explain the pathomechanisms involved in this disease, and studies have shown the participation of autoimmune processes in the pathogenesis of vitiligo. Cellular and humoral immunities have been implicated in the development of vitiligo and their role continues to be investigated. Peripheral blood and skin biopsies of patients with vitiligo show that T-cells, mononuclear cells, various pro-inflammatory cytokines, and auto-antibodies can damage melanocytes. Further research is required to determine whether autoimmunity is the main mechanism of vitiligo or only a consequence.

Risk factors of vertebral fractures in women with systemic lupus erythematosus.

The aim of the current study was to analyze the role of traditional and systemic lupus erythematosus (SLE)-related risk factors in the development of vertebral fractures. A cross-sectional study was performed in women with SLE attending a single center. A vertebral fracture was defined as a reduction of at least 20% of vertebral body height. Two hundred ten patients were studied, with median age of 43 years and median disease duration of 72 months. Osteopenia was present in 50.3% of patients and osteoporosis in 17.4%. At least one vertebral fracture was detected in 26.1%. Patients with vertebral fractures had a higher mean age (50 +/- 14 vs. 41 +/- 13.2 years, p = 0.001), disease damage (57.1% vs. 34.4%, p = 0.001), lower bone mineral density (BMD) at the total hip (0.902 +/- 0.160 vs. 982 +/- 0.137 g/cm(2), p = 0.002), and postmenopausal status (61.9% vs. 45.3%, p = 0.048). Stepwise logistic regression analysis revealed that only age (p = 0.001) and low BMD at the total hip (p = 0.007) remained as significant factors for the presence of vertebral fracture. The high prevalence of vertebral fractures in the relatively young population implies that more attention must be paid to detect and treat vertebral fractures.

Use of rituximab in patients with systemic lupus erythematosus: an update.

Systemic lupus erythematosus (SLE) is a chronic, occasionally life threatening, multisystem disorder. Patients suffer from a wide group of symptoms and have a variable prognosis that depends of the severity and type of organ involvement. The clinical manifestations include fever, skin lesions, arthritis, neurologic, renal, cardiac, and pulmonary disease. The pathogenesis of this serious multisystem autoimmune disease is based on polyclonal B cell immunity, which involves connective tissue and blood vessels. The novel biologic therapies have raised hope for more effective and safer treatment for SLE. Although definitive studies are still under development, the impressive preliminary results of therapies specifically targeting B cells and the signaling pathways involved in B-T-cell interactions suggest that the depletion of memory cells accounts, at least in part, for the clinical efficacy of rituximab therapy in patients whose disease is resistant to other immunosuppressive therapies. However these findings, although provocative, require further investigation in larger cohorts.