Neuropsychiatric lupus in late- and early-onset systemic lupus erythematosus patients: a systematic review and meta-analysis.

OBJECTIVES: Late-onset SLE is usually milder and associated with lower frequency of LN and neuropsychiatric manifestations. The diagnosis of NPSLE is especially challenging in older patients because of increased incidence of neurological comorbidities. We performed a systematic review and meta-analysis to evaluate the differences in NPSLE manifestations in early-onset (<50-year-old) vs late-onset (≥50-year-old) SLE patients. METHODS: A literature search was performed using the PubMed, Web of Science and Cochrane Library databases. Studies available in English (1959-2022) including a late-onset SLE comparison group and evaluating the frequency of NPSLE were eligible. A forest plot was used to compare odds ratios (95% CI) of incidence and manifestations of NPSLE by age groups. Study heterogeneity was assessed using I2 statistics. RESULTS: A total of 44 studies, including 17 865 early-onset and 2970 late-onset SLE patients, fulfilled our eligibility criteria. CNS involvement was reported in 3326 patients. Cumulative NPSLE frequency was higher in the early-onset group than in the late-onset group (OR: 1.41, 95% CI: 1.24, 1.59, P < 0.0001). In early-onset SLE patients, seizures (OR: 1.68, 95% CI: 1.27, 2.22) and psychosis (OR: 1.72, 95% CI: 1.23, 2.41) were more common than in late-onset SLE patients (P values, 0.0003 and 0.0014, respectively). Peripheral neuropathy was more commonly reported in the late-onset SLE group than in the early-onset SLE group (OR: 0.64, 95% CI: 0.47, 0.86, P = 0.004). CONCLUSION: Our meta-analysis revealed that the frequencies of overall NPSLE, seizures, and psychosis were less common in late-onset SLE patients than in early-onset SLE patients. In contrast, peripheral neuropathy was more common in the late-onset SLE group.

Genome-wide association study in Turkish and Iranian populations identify rare familial Mediterranean fever gene (MEFV) polymorphisms associated with ankylosing spondylitis.

Ankylosing spondylitis (AS) is a highly heritable immune-mediated arthritis common in Turkish and Iranian populations. Familial Mediterranean Fever (FMF) is an autosomal recessive autoinflammatory disease most common in people of Mediterranean origin. MEFV, an FMF-associated gene, is also a candidate gene for AS. We aimed to identify AS susceptibility loci and also examine the association between MEFV and AS in Turkish and Iranian cohorts. We performed genome-wide association studies in 1001 Turkish AS patients and 1011 Turkish controls, and 479 Iranian AS patients and 830 Iranian controls. Serum IL-1ß, IL-17 and IL-23 cytokine levels were quantified in Turkish samples. An association of major effect was observed with a novel rare coding variant in MEFV in the Turkish cohort (rs61752717, M694V, OR = 5.3, P = 7.63×10(-12)), Iranian cohort (OR = 2.9, P = 0.042), and combined dataset (OR = 5.1, P = 1.65×10(-13)). 99.6% of Turkish AS cases, and 96% of those carrying MEFV rs61752717 variants, did not have FMF. In Turkish subjects, the association of rs61752717 was particularly strong in HLA-B27-negative cases (OR = 7.8, P = 8.93×10(-15)), but also positive in HLA-B27-positive cases (OR = 4.3, P = 7.69×10(-8)). Serum IL-1ß, IL-17 and IL-23 levels were higher in AS cases than controls. Among AS cases, serum IL-1ß and IL-23 levels were increased in MEFV 694V carriers compared with non-carriers. Our data suggest that FMF and AS have overlapping aetiopathogenic mechanisms. Functionally important MEFV mutations, such as M694V, lead to dysregulated inflammasome function and excessive IL-1ß function. As IL-1 inhibition is effective in FMF, AS cases carrying FMF-associated MEFV variants may benefit from such therapy.

The epidemiology of dermatomyositis in northwestern Thrace region in Turkey: epidemiology of dermatomyositis in Turkey.

Dermatomyositis (DM) is a rare disease that may affect the skeletal muscles and the skin. Literature data on its incidence and prevalence are limited. There are no data on its incidence or prevalence in Turkey. Patients diagnosed with DM at the Trakya University Medical Faculty, Department of Rheumatology from November 2004 to November 2014 were reviewed retrospectively. Patients' clinical and demographic features, laboratory data, treatment modalities, follow-up durations, disease courses, outcomes, and complications were evaluated. Our study included 23 patients with DM; 14 were females and 9 were males (female/male: 1.55). Over the course of the study, the annual incidence of DM was 3.7 per million (95% CI 0-18.8) person years, and the overall prevalence was 32.2 per million (95% CI 18.1-46.3). Incidence in women was higher (4.6/1,000,000 person years) compared to men (2.9/1,000,000 person years). The frequencies of most common findings were as follows: heliotrope rash (82.6%), Gottron papules (87%), proximal myopathy (78.3%), and facial erythema (60.9%). In our hospital-based study, the frequency of DM was lower than those reported in North America; however, they were similar to European countries.

Response rate of initial conventional treatments, disease course, and related factors of patients with adult-onset Still's disease: Data from a large multicenter cohort.

BACKGROUND: Adult-onset Still's disease (AOSD) is a rare condition, and treatment choices are frequently dependent on expert opinions. The objectives of the present study were to assess treatment modalities, disease course, and the factors influencing the outcome of patients with AOSD. METHODS: A multicenter study was used to reach sufficient patient numbers. The diagnosis of AOSD was based on the Yamaguchi criteria. The data collected included patient age, gender, age at the time of diagnosis, delay time for the diagnosis, typical AOSD rash, arthralgia, arthritis, myalgia, sore throat, lymphadenopathy, hepatomegaly, splenomegaly, pleuritis, pericarditis, and other rare findings. The laboratory findings of the patients were also recorded. The drugs initiated after the establishment of a diagnosis and the induction of remission with the first treatment was recorded. Disease patterns and related factors were also investigated. A multivariate analysis was performed to assess the factors related to remission. RESULTS: The initial data of 356 patients (210 females; 59%) from 19 centers were evaluated. The median age at onset was 32 (16-88) years, and the median follow-up time was 22 months (0-180). Fever (95.8%), arthralgia (94.9%), typical AOSD rash (66.9%), arthritis (64.6%), sore throat (63.5%), and myalgia (52.8%) were the most frequent clinical features. It was found that 254 of the 306 patients (83.0%) displayed remission with the initial treatment, including corticosteroids plus methotrexate with or without other disease-modifying antirheumatic drugs. The multivariate analysis revealed that the male sex, delayed diagnosis of more than 6 months, failure to achieve remission with initial treatment, and arthritis involving wrist/elbow joints were related to the chronic disease course. CONCLUSION: Induction of remission with initial treatment was achieved in the majority of AOSD patients. Failure to achieve remission with initial treatment as well as a delayed diagnosis implicated a chronic disease course in AOSD.

The epidemiology of Takayasu arteritis: a hospital-based study from northwestern part of Turkey.

Takayasu arteritis (TA) is a chronic, inflammatory large vessel vasculitis that affects aorta and its main branches. We aimed to evaluate the incidence and prevalence of TA in the northwestern part of Turkey. We retrospectively evaluated 23 TA patients followed by our clinic. Clinical features, treatments and responses were recorded. Our hospital is the single tertiary referral center for rheumatic diseases for a mixed rural and urban population of 620,447 people for >16 years (306,036 males, 314,411 females). Nineteen of the 23 patients were females (82.6 %) and four were males (17.4 %). The annual incidence rate for TA was 0.34/100,000. The overall prevalence of TA in our region was 3.3/100,000 (95 % CI 1.9-4.8) in individuals >16 years. The most common findings at the time of presentation were blood pressure difference (73 %) and headache (60.4 %). The most common angiographic type was type 1 (12 patients, 52.2 %). Median follow-up period was 48 months (range 10-132). Three (13 %) of the patients had stent replacements to different vascular sites. One patient had an operation for aortic aneurysm, and aortic valve replacement surgery has been made. One patient had renal artery bypass operation. Eleven patients (47.8 %) had recurrency at follow-up period and two patients (8.7 %) died. In northwestern part of Turkey, the annual incidence and prevalence of TA were higher than western population, but similar to East Asian data.

The IL-33 gene is related to increased susceptibility to systemic sclerosis.

Systemic sclerosis (SSc) is a chronic inflammatory disease characterized by widespread fibrosis of the skin and several visceral organs. The pro-fibrotic potential of interleukin (IL)-33 has been demonstrated by in both in vitro and in vivo settings; moreover, increased level of IL-33 has also been reported in patients with SSc. Therefore, the aim of the present study was to detect the potential association of IL-33 gene polymorphisms on the susceptibility of SSc. A total of 300 SSc patients and 280 healthy controls (HC) were enrolled in this multicentric preliminary candidate gene study. DNA samples were harvested using an appropriate commercial DNA isolation kit. Four single nucleotide polymorphisms (SNPs) of IL-33 gene (rs7044343, rs1157505, rs11792633 and rs1929992) were genotyped using the appropriate commercial primer/probe sets on real-time PCR. There was no significant difference in terms of the allelic distributions and minor allele frequencies of evaluated four IL-33 polymorphisms between the SSc and HC groups (P > 0.05 for all). Moreover, the genotypic distributions of rs1157505, rs11792633 and rs1929992 polymorphisms were not significantly different (P > 0.05 for all). However, CC genotype of rs7044343 SNP was significantly higher in the SSc group compared to the HC group (P = 0.013, OR 1.75, 95 % CI 1.12-2.72). This preliminary candidate gene study demonstrates that rs7044343 polymorphism of IL-33 gene is associated with the susceptibility to the SSc in Turkish population. It may be suggested that IL-33 gene may be a candidate gene to research in SSc.

Investigation of the association between Rho/Rho-kinase gene polymorphisms and systemic sclerosis.

Systemic sclerosis (SSc) is a disease characterized by inflammation, vascular abnormalities and fibrosis. The role of Rho/Rho-kinase pathway was demonstrated in the pathogenesis of fibrosis, inflammation and vascular abnormalities. This study was aimed to investigate the relation between SSc and Rho/Rho-kinase gene polymorphisms. The study included 339 patients with SSc and 302 healthy subjects who were apparently healthy and at similar age and gender. Genotype distributions and allele frequencies were detected by using Chi-square test or Fisher's exact Chi-square test between groups, and the haplotype analysis was applied using online program (SHEsis). Significant association was found in a polymorphism in the ROCK1 gene (rs35996865), a polymorphism in ROCK2 gene (rs10178332), a polymorphism in RhoA gene (rs2177268) and two polymorphisms in RhoC gene (rs11102522 and rs11538960) with SSc disease (p < 0.0022). In this study, association between SSc disease and Rho/Rho-kinase gene polymorphisms was investigated for the first time; significant associations between ROCK1, ROCK2, RhoA and RhoC gene polymorphisms and SSc disease were demonstrated. The results strongly suggest that this SNP may be an important risk factor for development of SSc. However, further validation of these findings in an independent cohort is necessary.

A multicenter report of biologic agents for the treatment of secondary amyloidosis in Turkish rheumatoid arthritis and ankylosing spondylitis patients.

In this multicenter, retrospective study, we evaluated the efficacy and safety of biologic therapies, including anti-TNFs, in secondary (AA) amyloidosis patients with ankylosing spondylitis (AS) and rheumatoid arthritis (RA). In addition, the frequency of secondary amyloidosis in RA and AS patients in a single center was estimated. Fifty-one AS (39M, 12F, mean age: 46.7) and 30 RA patients (11M, 19F, mean age: 51.7) with AA amyloidosis from 16 different centers in Turkey were included. Clinical and demographical features of patients were obtained from medical charts. A composite response index (CRI) to biologic therapy-based on creatinine level, proteinuria and disease activity-was used to evaluate the efficacy of treatment. The mean annual incidence of AA amyloidosis in RA and AS patients was 0.23 and 0.42/1000 patients/year, respectively. The point prevalence in RA and AS groups was 4.59 and 7.58/1000, respectively. In RA group with AA amyloidosis, effective response was obtained in 52.2 % of patients according to CRI. RA patients with RF positivity and more initial disease activity tended to have higher response rates to therapy (p values, 0.069 and 0.056). After biologic therapy (median 17 months), two RA patients died and two developed tuberculosis. In AS group, 45.7 % of patients fulfilled the criteria of good response according to CRI. AS patients with higher CRP levels at the time of AA diagnosis and at the beginning of anti-TNF therapy had higher response rates (p values, 0.011 and 0.017). During follow-up after anti-TNF therapy (median 38 months), one patient died and tuberculosis developed in two patients. Biologic therapy seems to be effective in at least half of RA and AS patients with AA amyloidosis. Tuberculosis was the most important safety concern.

Immune thrombocytopenia: epidemiological and clinical features of 216 patients in northwestern Turkey.

We evaluated the clinical features, treatment modalities, treatment responses, and prognosis of our patients with immune thrombocytopenia (ITP). Furthermore, we estimated the frequency of ITP in the Thrace region of Turkey. Two hundred sixteen patients diagnosed with ITP between 2000 and 2012 at our center were retrospectively evaluated. Patients' clinical features, treatments, and responses to treatment modalities were recorded. The mean annual incidence of ITP was 2.92/100,000 (95%CI: 1.57-4.27). The overall prevalence of ITP was 35.1/100,000 (95%CI: 30.3-39.8). The administration of first-line therapy resulted in complete remission (CR) in 76.5 % of patients and partial remission (PR) in 13.6 %. After 5 years, 33 % of patients who were responsive to first-line therapy were still in relapse-free remission. Of patients who were given second-line therapy, CR was obtained in 71.3 % and PR in 14.9 %. The duration of relapse-free remission was longer with splenectomy than with steroids (p < 0.001). Five years after splenectomy, 62 % of patients were in relapse-free remission; contrarily, this was lower with steroids (36 % at 5 years). The annual incidence and prevalence of ITP in northwestern Turkey was similar to data from western countries-at the lower limit for some countries. Effective treatment strategies seem to be steroids as first-line therapy and splenectomy in refractory cases.

TNF-alpha antagonists and thalidomide for the management of gastrointestinal Behçet's syndrome refractory to the conventional treatment modalities: a case series and review of the literature.

OBJECTIVES: Gastrointestinal involvement of Behçet's syndrome is usually treated with glucocorticoids, 5-aminosalicylic acid compounds and azathioprine. However, some patients are refractory to these conventional therapy modalities. In this paper we report our experience on 13 patients with gastrointestinal involvement of Behçet's syndrome who were refractory to the conventional therapy and who were treated with TNF-alpha antagonists and/or thalidomide. METHODS: We reviewed the charts of our Behçet's syndrome patients with gastrointestinal involvement and identified those who were treated with TNF-alpha antagonists and/or thalidomide. Demographic features, previous and concomitant drugs, previous surgery, time to remission and duration of remission were tabulated. We also performed a systematic review of publications on gastrointestinal involvement of Behçet's syndrome patients treated with TNF-alpha antagonists and/or thalidomide. RESULTS: Among our 64 patients with gastrointestinal involvement of Behçet's syndrome, we identified 13 (20%) (7 women, 6 men, mean age 27.4±9.4) who had been treated with TNF-alpha antagonists and/or thalidomide. Their previous medications were glucocorticoids (13/13), azathioprine (13/13), 5-aminosalicylic acid derivatives (3/13) and budesonide (1/13). Clinical and endoscopic remission was obtained in 10 patients. One patient died with sepsis. The systematic literature search revealed 91 cases who had used TNF-alpha antagonists and 15 who had used thalidomide. Among the patients who had received TNF-alpha antagonists, clinical remission was obtained in 47/91 patients (51%), while endoscopic remission was observed in 21/46 (45%) who had a control colonoscopy. CONCLUSIONS: One fifth of our Behçet's syndrome patients with gastrointestinal involvement were refractory to conventional treatment modalities. Remission was obtained with TNF-alpha antagonists and/or thalidomide in about 75% of the cases.

Spleen tyrosine kinase (Syk) inhibitor fostamatinib limits tissue damage and fibrosis in a bleomycin-induced scleroderma mouse model.

OBJECTIVES: The pathogenesis of fibrosis in scleroderma (SSc) is unknown. TGF-ß and platelet-derived growth factor are important in the development of fibrosis and tyrosine kinases are involved in these pathways. The possible antifibrotic effects of various kinase inhibitors in SSc have been studied before. Spleen tyro-sine kinase (Syk) is a protein tyrosine kinase which activates intracellular signal transduction pathways; and has been claimed to be involved in the pathogenesis of systemic autoimmune diseases. Inhibition of Syk suppresses IgE- and IgG-associated FcR signal activation in various cell types; and suppresses experimental arthritis and skin and kidney disease in lupus-prone mice. We investigated the ability of a small drug, the Syk inhibitor, fostamatinib, to protect mice from bleomycin-induced SSc. METHODS: Four study groups of BALB/c mice were included into this study: control, bleomycin (administered subcutaneously to BALB/c mice for 21 days), bleomycin and fostamatinib (mice fed with chow containing a Syk inhibitor for 21 days), and fostamatinib alone groups. Skin and lung tissue specimens were obtained and evaluated histologically. RESULTS: Treatment with fostamatinib significantly reduced skin thickness and fibrosis. Mice treated with fostamatinib also displayed less fibrosis and inflammation in the lung tissue. Following fostamatinib treatment, Syk, phospho-Syk, and TGF-ß expression decreased in both skin and lung tissues. CONCLUSIONS: The Syk inhibitor fostamatinib prevented bleomycin-induced fibrosis and inflammation in the skin and in the lung. The anti-fibrotic effect of fostamatinib is linked to reduced Syk phosphorylation and TGF-ß expression. The Syk pathway appears as a potential molecular target for therapeutic intervention in SSc.

Blood-dominant disease in late-and-early-onset lupus: A systematic review and meta-analysis.

OBJECTIVES: Numerous studies have explored hematological manifestations in early-onset systemic lupus erythematosus (erSLE) (age ≤ 50) and late-onset SLE (ltSLE) patients (age > 50), yielding diverse results. This study employs a meta-analysis to examine differences in hematologic manifestations between ltSLE and erSLE. METHODS: Studies investigating the frequency of hematological manifestations in ltSLE patients were included. The frequencies of autoimmune hemolytic anemia (AIHA), thrombocytopenia (TP), lymphopenia, leukopenia, lymphadenopathy, and thrombosis were compared between erSLE and ltSLE groups. Two authors independently reviewed and assessed data consistency among abstracts, tables, and text to mitigate bias. Forest plots were utilized to compare odds ratios (95 % CI) of hematological manifestations by age groups, and study heterogeneity was evaluated using I2. RESULTS: The analysis included 39 eligible studies with 19,103 SLE patients (16,314 erSLE, 2789 ltSLE). Among these studies, 28 reported AIHA which was found to be more frequent in erSLE (OR = 1.29, 95 %CI = 1.11-1.39, p = 0.0008). Twenty studies provided data on lymphopenia which was found to be more frequent in erSLE (OR = 1.184, 95 %CI = 1.063-1.318, p = 0.0021). 32 studies included data on leukopenia and the frequency was higher in erSLE (OR: 1.338, 95 %CI: 1.22-1.47, p < 0.0001). Lymphadenopathy was more prevalent in erSLE (OR = 2.32, 95 % CI = 1.61-3.34, p < 0.0001). No significant difference was observed in thrombosis and TP frequency between the two groups. CONCLUSION: Attributing hematological findings to SLE in late-onset patients presents challenges due to comorbidities and polypharmacy. Overall, the frequencies of AIHA, lymphopenia, leukopenia, and lymphadenopathy were more common in erSLE patients compared to ltSLE in this study.

The frequency of fibromyalgia in patients with systemic lupus erythematosus and associated factors: a systematic review and meta-analysis.

Fibromyalgia (FM) in systemic lupus erythematosus (SLE) patients contributes to increased fatigue, anxiety, depression, and mental exhaustion. This study's objective is to systematically review the literature and to determine the frequency of FM in patients with SLE and its associated factors. A literature review was conducted to assess the prevalence of FM in SLE patients and to identify FM-associated factors. This involved searching the PubMed and Cochrane Library databases from 1959 to 2023. Cohorts, case-control, and population-based studies were included, while those not focusing on FM rates in SLE patients were excluded. Data on FM-associated factors and FM frequency in control or connective tissue disease (CTD) groups were obtained if available. Secondary analyses compared FM frequencies in SLE and other groups (healthy controls or CTD groups). Fifty-six studies met the eligibility criteria. Out of the 56 studies, nine included comparative data between SLE patients and healthy controls, while six presented data comparing the frequency of FM in patients with SLE and other CTDs. The combined cohorts included 58,052 SLE patients. Among 5063 SLE patients, FM was detected. The overall random-effects pooled prevalence of FM was 15.8% (95% CI, 13.4-18.5) with high heterogeneity (I2, 97.9%). Our analysis revealed a significantly higher risk of FM in patients with SLE compared to controls (OR, 3.7; 95% CI, 2.74-5.0). There was a higher risk of FM in SLE patients compared to other rheumatic diseases, but the difference was not significant. Our study showed that the prevalence of FM is higher in patients with SLE compared to the general population. FM in SLE may act as a confounding factor when assessing disease activity and treatment response. Research results indicate that concurrent FM is a frequent comorbidity in SLE, emphasizing the importance of recognizing its occurrence in SLE patients.

Secondary amyloidosis in ankylosing spondylitis.

We evaluated the frequency of secondary amyloidosis, associated clinical features, and outcomes in ankylosing spondylitis (AS) patients diagnosed in the last decade. The medical records of AS patients diagnosed at single academic medical center were reviewed for clinical evidence of amyloidosis. During routine follow-up, routine urinalysis was performed at each visit; patients with significant proteinuria underwent rectal biopsy. We diagnosed 8 clinically apparent amyloidosis patients (1.1 %) in our cohort of 730 AS patients (508 males, 222 females). Four patients undergoing hemodialysis were diagnosed secondary amyloidosis. Three patients had nephrotic syndrome and renal dysfunction and one patient had non-nephrotic proteinuria. When AS patients with amyloidosis were compared to AS controls, it was observed that the amyloidosis group was older, had longer disease duration, higher initial BASDAI scores, and ESR values, and more frequent peripheral arthritis (p < 0.05). Logistic regression analysis revealed that the initial BASDAI level was an independent predictor for the development of secondary amyloidosis (OR:2.36). Six patients were administered anti-TNF therapy. The clinical findings resolved in these. In 2 patients with nephrotic syndrome and renal dysfunction, in addition to clinical improvement, there was a decrement in proteinuria; renal function improved or remained stable. Anti-TNF therapy is safe and effective in patients with renal failure, and at an earlier stage, appears effective in improving renal function. The development of proteinuria in AS patients should occasion a search for underlying amyloidosis.

Do impaired memory, cognitive dysfunction and distress play a role in methotrexate-related neutropenia in rheumatoid arthritis patients? A comparative study.

We evaluated the roles of sociocultural status, distress and cognitive functions in rheumatoid arthritis (RA) patients who developed methotrexate (MTX)-related neutropenia. The data of 37 RA patients with MTX-related neutropenia who were being followed up at 3 centers were evaluated. The control group included 74 RA patients. The clinical features, biochemical tests and treatment modalities of the patients were obtained from hospital files. The mini-mental state examination (MMSE) test and the Hospital Anxiety and Depression Scale (HADS) were administered for all RA patients with neutropenia as well as the control group. The frequencies of male patients, illiterate patients, patients living alone, patients with serious visual impairment, those with low income, and patients with high creatinine were significantly higher among RA patients with MTX-related neutropenia than in controls (p values <0.05). The RA patients with MTX-related neutropenia had significantly lower MMSE scores, and significantly higher HADS-A and HADS-D scores than controls (p values <0.05). In addition, the proportion of patients with probable dementia was significantly higher in RA patients with MTX-related neutropenia than in controls (p < 0.001). Twenty-six of the 37 patients (70.3 %) developed neutropenia with daily dosing. Patients who used MTX daily were more likely to be living alone than those using weekly dosing (p = 0.011). Multivariate analysis showed that having probable dementia on the MMSE test (OR 52.6), low income level (OR 56.8) and age (OR 1.12) were independent risk factors for the development of MTX-related neutropenia. The presence of probable dementia on MMSE, low socioeconomical status and older age are associated with serious toxicity in RA patients using MTX. Measures should be taken to prevent wrong MTX dosing by the patients. Compliance and patient education is of major importance, in particular, in the patients presented in this study.

Demographic and clinical features of gout patients in Turkey: a multicenter study.

Gout results from multifactor interactions between gender, age, genetic and environmental factors. Environmental factors underlying gout and precipitating factors triggering acute attacks might vary in different populations with different lifestyles. In this study, we aimed to collect data regarding the demographic and clinical features, comorbid factors, and precipitating factors associated with the initiation of acute attacks in gout patients in Turkey. A total of 312 patients were included in this study (mean age, 58.8 ± 13.8 years; female/male ratio, 55/257). The demographic features, alcohol intake, clinical and laboratory features, and comorbid conditions including obesity, diabetes mellitus, hyperlipidemia, hypertension, and coronary heart disease were noted in a standard questionnaire. Precipitating factors initiating acute attacks (if any) were also noted. The patients were divided into 4 groups according to the region of location as central Anatolian region, southeast Anatolian region, Aegean region, and Trakya region. Our results were compared according to the gender and the location of the patients. The mean age at the start of the symptoms was 10 years higher in women (60.4 ± 14.8 and 50.6 ± 13.5 years in women and men, respectively, p < 0.001).Obesity was present in 40.1 %, diabetes mellitus in 17.9 %, hyperlipidemia in 30.1 %, hypertension in 53.5 %, coronary artery disease in 17 %, and nephrolithiasis in 21.8 % of patients. Precipitating factors triggering gout flares were as follows: diet (high consumption of meat or fish) in 46.5 %, alcohol consumption in 15.7 %, diuretics in 8.3 %, diet or diuretics in 5.1 %, diet or alcohol in 4.5 %, diet or alcohol or diuretics in 1.6 %, others in 4.2 %, and none in 14.1 %. The presence of diabetes and diuretic use was more common among women. Use of diuretics is a more common trigger for gout flares among women. On the other hand, various comorbid conditions, such as obesity and hypertension, and triggers for gout flares may differ between patients living in different geographic regions. In summary, we reported the first data regarding clinical and demographic characteristics of gout in Turkey. The majority of our patients could describe at least one "trigger" that initiated gout flare. Both comorbid conditions and triggers of attack might differ between men and women, and in different geographic areas. Better knowledge of the modifiable risk factors can be useful for the management strategy to optimize long-term patient outcomes in local clinics.

Thrombocytopenia in Patients with Systemic Lupus Erythematosus.

Thrombocytopenia can be one of the first manifestations of systemic lupus erythematosus and occurs in up to 40% of patients. Additionally, approximately 2% of patients with primary immune thrombocytopenia may develop systemic lupus erythematosus. Systemic lupus erythematosus is a highly heterogeneous disease, and in some patients, it may present mainly with hematological findings. Thrombocytopenia associated with systemic lupus erythematosus is also diverse, ranging from asymptomatic to severe, acute, or chronic cases. Several studies suggest that the coexistence of immune thrombocytopenia and systemic lupus erythematosus may be linked to a shared genetic background among various autoimmune diseases. Studies have reported correlations between thrombocytopenia and increased disease activity as well as kidney and central nervous system involvement in systemic lupus erythematosus. Severe thrombocytopenia is considered a poor prognostic factor in systemic lupus erythematosus. Despite this knowledge, the exact cause of reduced platelet count in systemic lupus erythematosus remains relatively unknown. Mainly, an excess of platelet destruction and/or reduced production from megakaryocytes are considered the primary factors contributing to systemic lupus erythematosus-associated thrombocytopenia. Given the prognostic significance of thrombocytopenia, there is a possibility of a pathogenic mechanistic role of thrombocytopenia and platelets in systemic lupus erythematosus. In systemic lupus erythematosus, platelets are activated and play a role in promoting autoimmune and inflammatory responses by interacting with both the innate and adaptive immunity. There is no randomized clinical trial in the treatment of systemic lupus erythematosus-related thrombocytopenia. Treatment approach of thrombocytopenia in lupus is almost similar to the treatment of immune thrombocytopenia. Considering the role of platelets in both inflammation and tissue injury, platelet activation and platelet-immune cell interaction might be important therapeutic strategies in the treatment of systemic lupus erythematosus.

Development of systemic lupus erythematosus in patients with immune thrombocytopenic purpura: A systematic meta-analysis.

BACKGROUND: Recent population-based cohort studies suggest that the incidence of systemic lupus erythematosus (SLE) is increased in patients with immune thrombocytopenic purpura (ITP). We performed a systematic review and meta-analysis to evaluate the development of SLE in patients with ITP. METHODS: Literature search was performed in PubMed, Web of Science and Cochrane Library for studies published prior to October 2022. Studies were included that reported development of SLE in ITP patients. Forest plot was used to detect overall SLE frequency in ITP and compare risk ratios for SLE development in different ITP subgroups. Study heterogeneity was assessed by using I2 statistics. RESULTS: 26 eligible studies comprising 14867 ITP patients were included in analysis. 311 ITP patients developed SLE during the follow-up period (range: 1.1-14 years) (2.09%, 95%CI: 1.87-2.33). Relative risk (RR) for developing SLE was significantly higher in female ITP patients (RR: 4.23, 95%CI: 2.52-7.12, p < 0.0001). Anti-nuclear antibody (ANA) was reported in 23 studies, there were 766/4377 ANA positive patients with ITP (17.5%). The risk of SLE development in ANA positive ITP patients was significant (RR: 26.29, 95%CI: 14.45-47.81, p < 0.0001). CONCLUSIONS: Our study suggests ITP patients are at high risk of developing SLE in future. Pooled data revealed that females and patients with a positive ANA titer are at a significantly high risk of developing SLE.

Inhibition of Syk activity by R788 in platelets prevents remote lung tissue damage after mesenteric ischemia-reperfusion injury.

Tissue injury following ischemia-reperfusion (I/R) occurs as a consequence of actions of soluble factors and immune cells. Growing evidence supports a role for platelets in the manifestation of tissue damage following I/R. Spleen tyrosine kinase has been well documented to be important in lymphocyte activation and more recently in platelet activation. We performed experiments to evaluate whether inhibition of platelet activation through inhibition of spleen tyrosine kinase prevents tissue damage after mesenteric I/R injury. Platelets isolated from C57BL/6J mice fed with R788 for 10 days were transfused into C57BL/6J mice depleted of platelets 2 days before mesenteric I/R injury. Platelet-depleted mice transfused with platelets from R788-treated mice before mesenteric I/R displayed a significant reduction in the degree of remote lung damage, but with little change in the degree of local intestinal damage compared with control I/R mice. Transfusion of R788-treated platelets also decreased platelet sequestration, C3 deposition, and immunoglobulin deposition in lung, but not in the intestine, compared with control groups. These findings demonstrate that platelet activation is a requisite for sequestration in the pulmonary vasculature to mediate remote tissue injury after mesenteric I/R. The use of small-molecule inhibitors may be valuable to prevent tissue damage in remote organs following I/R injury.