Dehydroepiandrosterone (DHEA) Supplementation in Rheumatic Diseases: A Systematic Review.

Background: Dehydroepiandrosterone (DHEA) is an adrenal hormone used to treat rheumatic conditions such as systemic lupus erythematosus (SLE), Sjogren's syndrome (SS), rheumatoid arthritis (RA) with controversial results. Aim: To review the results of DHEA use in rheumatic diseases. Methods: PubMed, Scielo, Scopus, and Embase databases were systematically searched for articles on the treatment of rheumatic diseases with DHEA between 1966 and April 2023. Results: Twenty-one studies were identified: 13 in SLE, 5 in SS, 2 in RA, and 1 in fibromyalgia. DHEA use in SLE has shown a mild to moderate effect on disease activity, a positive effect on bone mineral density (BMD), and improved fatigue. The studies on SS showed a decrease in symptoms of dry mouth, but its performance did not differ from placebo in disease activity. In RA, a questionable effect on disease activity was noted. The only study on fibromyalgia failed to show any improvement. The drug was well tolerated; mild androgenic effects were the most common complaints. Conclusion: DHEA seems to have a place in SLE treatment, where it improves BMD and disease activity. The use in RA, SS, and FM is questionable.

Melatonin supplementation improves rheumatological disease activity: A systematic review.

BACKGROUND: Melatonin is a pineal hormone with a complex role. It is linked to sleep, inflammatory, oxidative, and immunological processes. AIM: To review the use of melatonin supplementation in rheumatological diseases. METHODS: A systematic search of PubMed, Embase, and Scielo databases was performed, looking for articles on Melatonin and rheumatic diseases published between 1966 and August 2022. RESULTS: Thirteen articles were identified: in fibromyalgia (n = 5 articles), rheumatoid arthritis (n = 2), systemic sclerosis (n = 1), systemic lupus erythematosus (n = 1) and osteoporosis/osteopenia (n = 3) and osteoarthritis (n = 1). There were positive results of melatonin administration in fibromyalgia, osteoarthritis, and osteoporosis/osteopenia but not in rheumatoid arthritis and lupus. The drug was well tolerated with mild side effects. CONCLUSION: This review shows the efficacy of Melatonin in some rheumatic diseases. However, new studies are needed to elucidate the real role of this treatment in rheumatology.

Fibromyalgia and menopause: an open study on postmenopausal hormone therapy.

BACKGROUND: Fibromyalgia women (FM) seems to get worse at menopause suggesting some influence of estrogens on its pathophysiology. We aimed to study the influence of postmenopausal hormone therapy (HT) in FM, the relationship with sleep and FM impact. METHODS: We analyzed prospectively 69 menopausal women, divided in two groups, FM group (FMG; N.=32) and comparison group (CG; N.=28) submitted to HT for twelve weeks (1.2 mg/g transdermal estradiol, 100 mg micronized natural progesterone oral/daily). Data on Utian Quality of Life Questionnaire (UQOL) and Pittsburgh Sleep Quality Index (PSQI) were obtained in both groups, at entrance and twelve weeks after HT. FM patients also completed the Fibromyalgia Impact Questionnaire - Revised (FIQ-R) and fibromyalgia severity (FS). RESULTS: FM patients improved significantly the FIQ-R (P=0.0001, median FIQ-R score 30% lower), mainly the severity of FM, assessed by FS (P<0.0001). Both groups had improved quality of life and sleep (UQOL: P=0.0001; P=0.001, PSQI: P<0.0001; P=0.007, respectively). Differences between first and second PSQI were greater for CG than for FMG (P=0.008). CONCLUSIONS: HT improving sleep and quality of life in both groups; it was a significant clinical improvement seen by FIQ and FS in FM patients. These changes characterize improvement of functional status and symptoms severity.

Qualidade de vida em pacientes com espondiloartrites: análise comparativa entre as formas axial, periférica pura e mista / Quality of life in spondyloarthritis: a comparison among axial, peripheric and mixed forms

Introdução: As espondiloartrites são doenças musculoesqueléticas crônicas que podem ter envolvimento axial, periférico ou misto. Devido ao grande comprometimento físico esta doença causa importante redução da qualidade de vida, mas não se sabe se isto acontece de igual maneira nas 3 formas. Objetivo: Estudar a associação entre qualidade de vida e formas de espondiloartrites. Método: Coletaram-se dados acerca de epidemiologia, perfil clínico, comorbidades e de qualidade de vida (através do SF-12 ou Short Form Health Survey­12 questions). Resultados: Incluíram-se 120 indivíduos: 60 EpA e 60 controles. O SF-12 físico tinha mediana de 38,05 para espondiloartrites e 55,1 para controle (p<0,0001). No quesito mental as medianas foram de 42,1 e 50,1 com p=0,04. Não foi possível demonstrar diferenças nos subgrupos de espondiloartrites, tanto no aspecto físico como mental (p=0,33 e 0,30 respectivamente). Conclusão: Existem diferenças significativas na qualidade de vida entre espondiloartrites e controles, mas não entre os subgrupos das espondiloartrites.

Introduction: Spondyloarthritis are chronic musculoskeletal diseases divided as axial, peripherical and mixed diseases. Due to a great physical involvement, it reduces patients' quality of life, but it is unknown how the 3 forms of the disease behave in such context. Objective: To study the quality of life association with spondyloarthritis forms. Methods: Data collection included: epidemiologic data, clinical profile, and quality of life data evaluated through the SF-12 (Short Form Health Survey­12 questions). Results: About 120 individuals were included: 60 spondyloarthritis and 60 controls. The physical SF-12 showed median of 38.05 for spondyloarthritis and 55.1 for controls (p<0.0001). The medians in mental SF-12 were 42.1 and 50.1 with p= 0.04. No differences in quality of life in the spondyloarthritis subgroups could be detected (with p=0.33 and 0.30 for physical and mental aspects). Conclusion: There was a significant difference in quality of life between spondyloarthritis sample and controls but not among the spondyloarthritis subgroups.

Intestinal histological findings in patients with spondyloarthritis: a study of the relationship with disease activity

The role of intestinal microbioma and subclinical bowel inflammation in the etiology of sponsyloarthritis (SpA) has gained a lot of attention recently. Almost 65% of SpA patients will have asymptomatic bowel inflammation if assessed by ileocolonoscopy. The connection between intestinal inflammation and SpA originated the gut-joint axis hypothesis in which monocytes and T cells found in the joint would have origin in the gut (AU)

Rheumatoid arthritis and nutritional profile: A study in Brazilian females.

BACKGROUND: Patients with rheumatoid arthritis (RA) may have nutritional impairment. In RA, muscle loss is associated with an increase in fat tissue, and the patients may not have body mass index (BMI) alterations. AIM: To study the nutritional status in a sample of patients with RA in Brazil through mini nutritional assessment (MNA) and electric bioimpedance and its relationship to BMI, functionality, disease activity, and treatment. METHODS: Seventy-one RA females were included. Chart review was used to obtain epidemiological, clinical, and treatment data. Patients answered the MNA and were submitted to electrical bioimpedance and anthropometric measurements. Disease activity was assessed through simple disease activity index (SDAI), clinical disease activity index (CDAI), and function, through health assessment questionnaire (HAQ). RESULTS: According to MNA, 23 (32.4%) patients were at risk for malnutrition and 1 (1.4%) was malnourished. MNA were associated with disease activity and function impairment (SDAI P = .02; CDAI P = .02, and HAQ P = .002) but not with used medications. According to BMI, 76% were overweight or obese. An increased percentage of body fat was found in 98.7% and a lower percentage of lean mass in 95.7%. Disease activity and function were not associated with the percentage of body fat of any used medications, with a lower percentage of body fat in those using abatacept (P = .01). CONCLUSION: Almost one-third of patients had nutritional impairment according to MNA which was associated with disease activity and loss of function. Almost the whole sample had an increased percentage of fat mass and a diminished percentage of muscle mass that could not be linked with disease activity, function or used medications.

O índice de massa corporal tem algum papel na atividade inflamatória na artrite reumatoide / Does the body mass index have any role in inflammatory activity in rheumatoid arthritis?

Artrite reumatoide é doença reumática autoimune e crônica. Acredita-se que a obesidade pode intervir nos seus parâmetros inflamatórios. O objetivo deste estudo foi verificar se existe correlação entre atividade inflamatória dela e o índice de massa corporal (IMC).É estudo transversal retrospectivo nos quais foram obtidos dados de biometria (peso e altura) para cálculo do IMC e de atividade inflamatória. Estudaram-se 676 pacientes (87,5% mulheres com mediana de idade de 59,6 anos). Nesta população, 1,3% estava abaixo do peso normal; 28,1% dentro do peso normal; 35,3% sobrepeso; 31% obesidade grau I e 4,1% obesidade grau 2. Encontrou-se fraca correlação entre o DAS 28-PCR com o IMC. Correlações com os demais parâmetros de inflamação foram não significantes. Em conclusão existe alta proporção de pacientes com artrite reumatoide acima do peso normal e fraca correlação entre IMC e DAS28-PCR

Rheumatoid arthritis is an autoimmune and chronic rheumatic disease. It is believed that obesity can intervene in its inflammatory parameters. The objective of this study was to verify if there is a correlation between her inflammatory activity and the body mass index (BMI). It is a retrospective cross-sectional study in which biometric data (weight and height) were obtained to calculate BMI and inflammatory activity. We studied 676 patients (87.5% women with a median age of 59.6 years). In this population, 1.3% were underweight; 28.1% within normal weight; 35.3% overweight; 31% grade I obesity and 4.1% grade 2 obesity. We found a weak correlation between DAS 28-CRP and BMI. Correlations with the other inflammation parameters were not significant. In conclusion, there is a high proportion of patients with rheumatoid arthritis above normal weight and a weak correlation between BMI and DAS28-CRP

Lidocaine in fibromyalgia: A systematic review.

BACKGROUND: Fibromyalgia (FM) patients are treated with antidepressants, and in most cases, these drugs lose efficacy or present side effects. Intravenous lidocaine (IL) is an anesthetic drug used in some FM trials. AIM: To systematically review the safety and efficacy of IL in FM patients. METHODS: To systematically search PubMed for articles in English, Spanish, and Japanese with English Abstracts on FM and lidocaine between 1966 and February 2021. This study was registered at PROSPERO. RESULTS: We found only ten articles published in this field, with a total of 461 patients. Females predominated varying from 95% to 100% in the studies. Age varied from 40.9 to 55 years old. Disease duration varied from 1 mo to 6.4 years. Lidocaine dose varied from 2 to 7.5 mg/kg via intravenous infusion. Follow-up period varied from 65.7 to 90 days. Regarding outcomes, most studies used the visual analogue scale (VAS) for pain; before short-term lidocaine administration, VAS was between 6.1 and 8.1 and after treatment was between 1.7 and 4.5 mm. Concerning long term lidocaine, VAS varied from 30% to 35.4% after lidocaine infusion. Side effects were observed in 0% to 39.6% of cases, they were usually mild or moderate. CONCLUSION: This study demonstrates the short-term effectiveness and safety of intravenous lidocaine in FM patients. However, more studies, including long-term follow-up, are still needed.

Seroconversion of rheumatoid arthritis patients after yellow fever vaccination.

Vaccination is a current strategy used to prevent infections in patients with immune-mediated rheumatic diseases. However, the use of live-attenuated vaccines prepared from living microorganisms in these patients should be avoided due to the risk of acquiring infections. The present study aimed to investigate the effect of the yellow fever (YF) vaccine (a live-attenuated vaccine) in 12 patients with rheumatoid arthritis (RA). The sample comprised 12 patients (9 females and 3 males; mean age 52.2 ± 6.5 years) with RA, who inadvertently received fractionated 17D yellow fever vaccination during an outbreak of this disease. In this cohort, 10 were administered leflunomide; 7 were administered methotrexate; 6 were administered prednisone (median dose of 5.0 mg/day); 6 took biologic drugs; and 1 took tofacitinib. All but one patient (used rituximab, prednisone, and methotrexate) seroconverted. None of them developed clinical signs of infection after the procedure. The fractionated dose of the YF vaccine is effective and safe in the observed sample. Key Points • Patients with autoimmune inflammatory rheumatic diseases (AIIRD) are at a high risk of acquiring infections • The fractionated dose of the YF vaccine is effective and safe in the observed sample • Vaccination against YF should be avoided in patients with AIIRD under immunosuppression owing to the risks of inducing YF infection.

Adverse childhood experiences in patients with psoriasis.

INTRODUCTION: Adverse childhood experiences (ACEs) have been linked to occurrence of autoimmune diseases in adults, including psoriasis. OBJECTIVES: To study the prevalence of ACEs in psoriasis patients, comparing them with a sample from the general population. METHODS: Three hundred and eighteen individuals were included (104 psoriasis patients and 214 controls). Patients and controls answered questions on an ACE study questionnaire about experiences of childhood abuse, negligence, domestic violence, and household dysfunction. Questionnaire scores range from zero (best result) to 8 (worst scenario). Psoriasis patients' charts were reviewed for epidemiological, clinical, and treatment data. A Psoriasis Area Severity Index (PASI) was calculated from measurements taken when the questionnaire was administered. RESULTS: Psoriasis patients reported a median of 4 ACEs (interquartile range [IQR] = 3-5) while controls had a median of 3 (IQR = 2-4) with p < 0.0001. The number of ACEs was not associated with PASI, age of disease onset, or presence of associated arthritis (all p > 0.5). Female psoriasis patients had more ACEs than males (p = 0.04). CONCLUSION: Patients with psoriasis have more ACEs than controls and ACEs were more common in female patients.

Adverse childhood experiences in patients with psoriasis

Abstract Introduction Adverse childhood experiences (ACEs) have been linked to occurrence of autoimmune diseases in adults, including psoriasis. Objectives To study the prevalence of ACEs in psoriasis patients, comparing them with a sample from the general population. Methods Three hundred and eighteen individuals were included (104 psoriasis patients and 214 controls). Patients and controls answered questions on an ACE study questionnaire about experiences of childhood abuse, negligence, domestic violence, and household dysfunction. Questionnaire scores range from zero (best result) to 8 (worst scenario). Psoriasis patients' charts were reviewed for epidemiological, clinical, and treatment data. A Psoriasis Area Severity Index (PASI) was calculated from measurements taken when the questionnaire was administered. Results Psoriasis patients reported a median of 4 ACEs (interquartile range [IQR] = 3-5) while controls had a median of 3 (IQR = 2-4) with p < 0.0001. The number of ACEs was not associated with PASI, age of disease onset, or presence of associated arthritis (all p > 0.5). Female psoriasis patients had more ACEs than males (p = 0.04). Conclusion Patients with psoriasis have more ACEs than controls and ACEs were more common in female patients.

Systemic lupus erythematosus in children and adults: A retrospective study in Brazilian patients.

BACKGROUND: Systemic lupus erythematosus (SLE) may have a different serological and clinical profile according to age of disease onset. AIM: To compare clinical presentation and serological data from patients with SLE onset in childhood (cSLE) with disease onset in adulthood (aSLE) in a sample of Brazilian patients. METHODS: Retrospective study of 614 SLE patients from a single Rheumatology Unit from Brazil: 77 (12.5%) cSLE and 537 (87.4%) aSLE. Clinical and serological data were obtained from the charts. Comparisons of cSLE with aSLE in general and according to patient's gender were made. RESULTS: The comparison of whole sample showed that children had more malar rash (p = 0.04), seizures (p < 0.0001), psychosis (p = 0.02), glomerulonephritis (p = 0.001), anti-dsDNA (p = 0.008), anticardiolipin IgM (p = 0.04) but less discoid lesions (p = 0.01), anti-Ro (p < 0.0001) and anti-La antibodies (p = 0.007). When only the male sample was compared, no differences in glomerulonephritis and anti-dsDNA frequencies were found. CONCLUSION: Children had a higher frequency of severe manifestations (glomerulonephritis and central nervous system) than adults. The difference in glomerulonephritis occurrence disappeared when only males were compared.

Dry eye and percentage of body fat: a cross-sectional prospective study.

BACKGROUND: Dry eyes are common in the general population. Some studies associate high prevalence of dry eyes with lipid metabolic changes and body fat composition. AIM: To study the association of dry eye with percentage of body fat. METHODS: One hundred and thirty five individuals (44 males and 91 females; median age of 42 years) were studied in a cross-sectional prospective study. Schirmer test and TBUT (tear breakup time) test were used to access dry eye. Body composition (percentage of lean and fat mass) were calculated using anthropometric measurements that included height, weight, abdominal, waist and neck circumference. RESULTS: About 44.4% of the sample had abnormal Schirmer test, and 70.3% had abnormal TBUT. Schirmer tests values were associated with age (p = 0.0006) female gender (p = 0.04) and percentage of body fat (p = 0.02). Abnormal TBUT test associated only with age (p = 0.0005). CONCLUSIONS: Percentage of body fat is associated with abnormal Schirmer but not TBUT test.

Erectile Dysfunction, Testosterone Levels and Disease Activity in Ankylosing Spondylitis Patients.

OBJECTIVE: To study erectile function in male patients with Ankylosing Spondylitis (AS) trying to correlate it with sexual hormonal profile and disease activity. METHODS: We included 35 AS patients and 104 controls. Patients and controls answered the IIEF (International Index of Erectile Dysfunction) and had dosing of total testosterone, free testosterone (FT), bioavailable testosterone (BT), SHBG (serum hormone binding globulin), albumin and LH (luteinizing hormone). AS patients had epidemiological, clinical and treatment data obtained from the charts. AS disease activity was measured simultaneously with blood collection through Bath AS Disease Activity Index, ASDAS (AS Disease Activity Score) -ESR (using erythrocyte sedimentation rate) and ASDAS-CRP (using C reactive protein). RESULTS: The IIEF results were worse in AS patients than controls (P = .02). Total testosterone and SHBG were higher in AS (with P = .01 and P <.0001 respectively). Between the 2 groups, no differences in LH, FT, BT levels (all with P = ns) were found. In AS patients, the IIEF results did not correlate with total testosterone, SHBG, LH, FT, and BT but a negative association was found with Bath AS Disease Activity Index (P = .001) and ASDAS-CRP (P = .02). CONCLUSION: AS patients had worst sexual performance than controls that was linked to disease activity but not to male sexual hormonal profile.

Dry eyes in patients with diabetes mellitus.

Dry eyes may be caused by impairment in the tear production or excessive tear evaporation and are associated with photophobia, red eyes, vision impairment, local pain and pruritus. It has been described that patients with Diabetes Mellitus (DM) may have a higher prevalence of dry eyes than normal population. This is a case control study of 120 patients with Diabetes Mellitus (DM) and 120 paired controls aiming to compare their prevalence of dry eyes (by the Schirmer test) and its severity (measured by OSDI or Ocular Surface Disease Index) as well as their association with diseases' clinical variables. We found that 38.3% of DM patients had dry eyes, a prevalence that was higher than controls (p = 0.02). At univariate analysis, they were found to be more common in older individuals (p = 0.001) with type 2 diabetes (p = 0.001) and in those using metformin (p = 0.001). A multivariate linear regression showed that metformin use was the only independent variable associated with dry eyes. When patients with dry eyes with and without DM were compared, no differences in the symptom's intensity were found.

Chloroquine, Hydroxychloroquine and Hearing Loss: A Study in Systemic Lupus Erythematosus Patients.

OBJECTIVES/HYPOTHESIS: Antimalarial drugs (chloroquine and hydroxychloroquine) are widely used for the treatment of systemic lupus erythematosus (SLE). However, these drugs may have side effects such as hearing loss. This study aimed to describe the hearing function in SLE patients using antimalarials. Secondarily, this study aimed to investigate whether SLE causes hearing loss and if there are any serological or clinical aspects of this diseases associated with inner ear damage. STUDY DESIGN: Cross-sectional study. METHODS: This study included 84 individuals (43 SLE patients and 41 controls) with audiometry and tympanometry tests. Epidemiological, clinical, serological, and treatment profiles of SLE patients were extracted from the charts. RESULTS: SLE patients had more sensorineural hearing loss than controls (23.2% vs. 0; P = .001). Pure-tone averages in SLE patients using antimalarials and not using antimalarials were similar (8.75 vs. 8.75; P = .63). At 8,000 Hz, antimalarial dug nonusers performed worse than users (10.00 vs. 22.50; P = .03). Tympanometry was normal in all participants. SLE serological and clinical profiles in patients with and without hearing loss were the same (all P = nonsignificant). CONCLUSIONS: There is a high prevalence of hearing loss in SLE that is not affected by antimalarial drug use. LEVEL OF EVIDENCE: 3b Laryngoscope, 131:E957-E960, 2021.

Sleep Disturbance in Scleroderma.

INTRODUCTION: Sleep quality may be impaired in systemic scleroderma (SSc) patients and contribute to loss of life quality. AIM: The aims of this study were to study the prevalence of sleep disturbance in SSc patients and its possible association with epidemiological, clinical and laboratory data, treatment used, and depression, and to verify the association of sleep disturbance and quality of life in this group of patients. METHODS: This is a cross-sectional study including 60 SSc patients. Epidemiological, clinical, laboratory, and treatment data were extracted from the medical records. To evaluate sleep quality, the PSQI (Pittsburgh Sleep Quality Index) was used; to evaluate depression, the CES-D (Center for Epidemiological Scale-Depression) was used; and to evaluate quality of life, SF-12 (12-Item Short-Form Health Survey) was used. Disease severity was evaluated by the Medsger index and the degree of cutaneous involvement by the modified Rodnan index. RESULTS: The prevalence of patients with sleep disturbance was 73.3%. Sleep disturbance was associated with esophageal involvement (p = 0.03), Medsger index with higher disease severity (p = 0.01), and more depressive mood (p = 0.002). Patients with poor quality of sleep had worse quality of life by the SF-12 in mental (p = 0.001) and physical domains (p = 0.0008). No associations were found with epidemiological, serological, and treatment variables (all P's = nonsignificant). CONCLUSIONS: There is a high prevalence of sleep disturbance in patients with SSc that is associated with esophageal involvement, severity of disease, depression, and worse quality of life.

Hiperuricemia em psoriase e artrite psoriática / Hyperuricemia in psoriasis and psoriatic arthritis

Introdução: A psoríase é uma doença inflamatória crônica, imunomediada, de base genética, com grande polimorfismo de expressão clínica. É caracterizada pelo envolvimento de pele, unhas e, eventualmente, articulações. De ocorrência mundial, possui prevalência entre 2 a 3% na população geral. Entre 20-30% dos pacientes com psoríase desenvolvem a artrite psoriática (AP) a qual pode preceder, estar associada ou suceder o aparecimento da psoríase. A hiperuricemia é uma condição frequentemente associada a pacientes psoriásicos. Objetivos: Estudar a prevalência de hiperuricemia em pacientes com psoríase e sua possível associação com o fenótipo da doença, atividade articular e cutânea. Metodologia: Trata-se de um estudo transversal e analítico realizado através da avaliação de ácido úrico de 58 pacientes diagnosticados com psoríase (com e sem AP) acompanhados pelos ambulatórios de dermatologia e reumatologia do Hospital Universitário Evangélico Mackenzie de Curitiba, PR. Resultados: Cerca de 58 indivíduos foram analisados; dentre eles 24 mulheres e 34 homens, com mediana da idade é de 57 anos. Dos pacientes acometidos pela psoriase, a hiperuricemia esteve presente em 13,7%, sendo mais prevalente no sexo masculino (p=0.01)., nos com artrite psoriásica (p=0.04) e naqueles com envolvimento ungueal (p=0.006) e mais rara naqueles com a forma vulgar da psoríase (p<0.0001). Nenhum paciente apresentou artrite gotosa. A atividade da doença de pele e da doença articular não interferiram nos níveis de ácido úrico (p=ns). Conclusão: Pacientes com artrite psoriásica têm maior incidência de hiperuricemia do que aqueles com psoríase só de pele. Hiperuricemia é mais comum nos pacientes masculinos, com envolvimento ungueal e menos comum naqueles com psoríase vulgar

Introduction: Psoriasis is a chronic, immunomodulated, genetic-based inflammatory disease with great polymorphism of clinical expression. It is characterized by the involvement of skin, nails and eventually joints. It has a worldwide occurrence, with prevalence between 2 and 3% in the general population. Between 20-30% of patients with psoriasis develop psoriatic arthritis (PA), which may precede, be associated with, or succeed psoriasis. Hyperuricemia is a condition often associated with psoriatic patients. Objectives: To study the prevalence of hyperuricemia in patients with psoriasis and its possible association with the phenotype of the disease, joint and skin activity. Methodology: This is a cross-sectional and analytical study conducted through the evaluation of uric acid in patients diagnosed with psoriasis (with and without PA) followed by dermatology and rheumatology outpatient clinics of the Mackenzie Evangelical University Hospital of Curitiba, PR. Results: About 58 individuals were analyzed; among them 24 women and 34 men, with a median age of 57 years. Of the patients affected by psoriasis, hyperuricemia was present in 13.7%, being more prevalent in males (p=0.01), in those with psoriatic arthritis (p=0.04) and in those with nail involvement (p=0.006) and less common in those with the vulgar form of psoriasis (p<0.0001). No patient had gouty arthritis. Skin disease and joint disease activities did not interfere with uric acid levels (p=ns). Conclusion: Patients with psoriatic arthritis have a higher incidence of hyperuricemia than those with skin-only psoriasis. Hyperuricemia is more common in male patients, with nail involvement and less common in those with psoriasis vulgaris

Avaliação da função cardíaca por métodos ecocardiográficos em pacientes assintomáticos com lúpus eritematoso sistêmico / Assessment of cardiac function by echocardiographic methods in asymptomatic patients with systemic lupus erythematosus

O lúpus eritematoso sistêmico (LES) é doença autoimune crônica. Uma das suas importantes complicações é o dano cardiovascular. O objetivo deste trabalho foi estudar a prevalência de disfunção cardíaca em uma população local com LES e verificar se o grau de disfunção está associado com o a atividade da doença medida pelo SLEDAI (Systemic Lupus erythematosus activity index). Foram selecionados 19 pacientes assintomáticos do ponto de vista cardiovascular com diagnóstico de LES e que preenchiam os critérios classificatórios. A atividade de doença foi medida pelo SLEDAI e a função cardíaca por ecocardiografia transtorácica. Em conclusão, não foi possível identificar disfunção cardíaca na amostra estudada. Pontuações mais altas no índice de atividade do lúpus demonstraram correlação com aumento de massa de ventrículo esquerdo e fração de ejeção.

Systemic lupus erythesis (SLE) is a chronic autoimmune disease. One of the important complications of this disease is the cardiovascular damage The objective of this work was to study the prevalence of cardiac dysfunction in a local population with SLE and to verify whether the degree of dysfunction is associated with the disease activity measured by SLEDAI (Systemic Lupus erythematosus activity index). Were selected 19 patients asymptomatic from cardiovascular point of view diagnosed with SLE and who met the classification criteria for SLE. Disease activity was measured by SLEDAI and cardiac function was evaluated by transthoracic echocardiography. In conclusion, cardiac dysfunction could not be identified in the sample studied. Higher scores in the lupus activity index showed a correlation with increased left ventricle mass and ejection fraction.

Anticorpos anti topoisomerase 1 no lúpus eritematoso sistêmico / Anti-topoisomerase 1 antibodies in systemic lupus erythematosus

Antitopoisomerase-1 (ou Scl-70) é um autoanticorpo considerado como biomarcador da forma difusa de esclerodermia. Alguns autores o têm encontrado em pacientes com lúpus. O objetivo deste estudo foi estudar a presença do anticorpo Scl-70 em lúpus eritematoso sistêmico (SLE). É pesquisa com 94 pacientes com LES para anticorpo anti Scl-70 usando o kit comercial de ELISA Virgo™, Columbia, USA. Dados clínicos, epidemiológicos e sorológicos foram obtidos dos prontuários. Como resultado, somente 2 pacientes (2.1%) tinham anticorpos anti Scl-70 em baixos títulos. Nenhum deles tinha características de esclerodermia. Em conclusão, não se confirmam achados anteriores acerca da presença de anti Scl-70 em lúpus. Este anticorpo parece ser específico para esclerodermia.

Antitopoisomerase-1 (or Scl-70) is an autoantibody considered as a biomarker of the diffuse form of scleroderma. Some authors have found it in lupus patients. The aim of this study was to study the presence of the Scl-70 antibody in systemic lupus erythematosus (SLE). It is screened with 94 SLE patients for anti Scl-70 antibody using the commercial Virgo™ ELISA kit, Columbia, USA. Clinical, epidemiological and serological data were obtained from medical records. As a result, only 2 patients (2.1%) had anti-Scl-70 antibodies at low titers. None of them had features of scleroderma. In conclusion, previous findings regarding the presence of anti Scl-70 in lupus are not confirmed. This antibody appears to be specific for scleroderma.