Systemic lupus erythematosus (SLE) responder index (SRI)-4 response has been achieved with belimumab treatment in patients with moderate disease activity in cornerstone clinical trials and following studies. However, most studies involved patients treated with a mean prednisolone-equivalent dose of approximately 10 mg/d and focused on the steroid-sparing effect of belimumab. We aimed to identify the effect of belimumab in patients with mild-to-moderate SLE who were treated with low-dose or no corticosteroids.
Medical laboratories may, at their own discretion, exceed but not undercut regulatory quality requirements. Available economic resources, however, may drive or hinder eagerness to exceed minimum requirements. Depending on the respective scopes of regulatory and economic framework conditions, differing levels of quality efforts to safeguard laboratory performance can be anticipated. However, this has not yet been investigated.Immunohaematology external quality assessment (EQA) results collected by 26 EQA providers from their participant laboratories in 73 countries from 2004 to 2019 were evaluated. Error rates were aggregated in groups according to the respective national regulatory and economic framework conditions, to whether or not expert advice was provided in case of incorrect results, and the frequency of EQA samples.These representative data indicate no association between national regulatory (mandatory participation in EQA, monitoring of performance of individual laboratories by authorities, financial consequences of incorrect results) and economic (level of national income, share of national health expenditure) conditions to the quality performance of medical laboratories in immunohaematology. However, EQA providers' support for laboratories in the event of incorrect results appear to be associated with lower error rates, but a high EQA sample frequency with higher error rates.Further research into the impact of introducing or changing services of EQA providers is needed to confirm the results found in this first of its kind study.
Background: Aortic regurgitation (AR) is a common cardiovascular complication in patients with Takayasu arteritis (TAK), and complication after aortic valve surgery (AVS) is not rare. This study aimed to identify the long-term postoperative outcomes for significant AR in patients with TAK compared with those in patients without TAK. Methods: We included 35 patients with TAK with moderate-to-severe AR who underwent AVS and compared their postoperative outcomes with those of 105 age- and operation period-matched patients with severe AR but without TAK. The risk factors for poor outcomes (all-cause death and major adverse cardiac and cerebrovascular events [MACCE]) in patients with TAK were analyzed using multivariate Cox regression. Results: The 10-year overall survival rate was 70.5% in patients with TAK and 89.4% in those without TAK (p = 0.048). The MACCE and reoperation rates were significantly higher in patients with TAK (10-year freedom from MACCE, 58.2% vs. 86.4% [p < 0.001]; 10-year freedom from reoperation, 64.5% vs. 98.3% [p < 0.001]). Eighteen of the 35 patients with TAK (51.4%) had poor outcomes, and multivariate analysis revealed that significant coronary artery involvement (hazard ratio [HR], 4.178; 95% confidence interval [CI], 1.222–14.282; p = 0.023) and decreased estimated glomerular filtration rate (HR, 0.968; 95% CI, 0.947–0.989; p = 0.003) were associated with poor outcomes. Conclusion: The long-term postoperative outcomes for AR were poorer in patients with TAK than in those without TAK. The poor outcomes in patients with TAK were associated with coronary artery involvement and decreased renal function.
Objective: Uveitis is the most common extra-articular manifestation of ankylosing spondylitis (AS), for which no diagnostic biomarkers have been identified. This study was conducted to identify biomarker for uveitis in AS. Methods: To identify autoantibodies associated with uveitis in AS, we performed human protein microarray analysis using sera derived from various autoimmune diseases and ELISA analysis of sera derived from AS and rheumatoid arthritis patients. In the curdlan-induced SKG mice model, ophthalmic examination was performed at week 8 post-immunization and histologic examination of the ocular lesions performed at week 16 post-immunization. Serum levels of target antibodies were assessed at various time-points. To evaluate the functional role of specific autoantibodies, an in vitro apoptosis assay using ARPE-19 cells was performed. Results: Reactivity against prefoldin subunit 5 (PFDN5) was identified in AS with uveitis. Levels of anti-PFDN5 antibodies and PFDN5 in sera from AS with uveitis patients were significantly higher than those in AS without uveitis. At week 8, half of curdlan-treated SKG mice developed anterior uveitis, while all of them developed histologically confirmed uveitis at week 16. The levels of anti-PFDN5 antibodies increased over time in the sera of curdlan-treated SKG mice along with increased expression of PFDN5 and apoptosis in the ocular lesions. Knockdown of PFDN5 in ARPE19 cells resulted in increased apoptosis, suggesting a protective role of PFDN5 against cell death in uveitis. Conclusion: AS patients with uveitis have increased levels of anti-PFDN5 antibodies, and our findings suggest that anti-PFDN5 antibodies could provide a biomarker for uveitis in AS.
Takayasu arteritis (TA) involving the renal artery can result in hypertension (HTN), renal dysfunction, and premature death. The aim of this study was to investigate the longterm outcomes and factors that predict outcomes in patients with TA with renal artery stenosis.The medical records of patients diagnosed with TA between January 1997 and December 2014 were reviewed retrospectively. Renal artery involvement was based on computed tomography and/or angiography findings. Poor outcome was defined as refractory HTN, chronic renal insufficiency, or death.Of the 62 TA patients with renal artery involvement, 11 (17.7%) underwent renal artery revascularization. Younger age, male sex, and more severe stenosis (> 70%) were associated with vascular intervention. After a median followup of 90.6 months, 11 (17.7%) of the 62 patients had refractory HTN and 6 (9.7%) had chronic renal insufficiency. Renal insufficiency [5/15 (33.3%) vs 3/47 (6.4%), p = 0.016] and bilateral involvement [12/15 (80.0%) vs 23/47 (48.9%), p = 0.041] were significantly more frequent in patients with poor than good outcomes. Multivariate Cox analysis revealed that renal insufficiency at presentation (HR 13.778, 95% CI 3.530-53.786, p < 0.001) and bilateral renal artery involvement (HR 5.053, 95% CI 1.179-21.661, p = 0.029) were significant risk factors for poor outcomes at followup, but performance of revascularization procedure was not (HR 0.663, 95% CI 0.176-2.498, p = 0.543).Bilateral lesions and renal functional impairment at presentation, but not implementation of revascularization procedures, were significant factors for outcomes in TA patients with renal artery involvement.
Reduced renal function is associated with worse renal outcome in patients with lupus nephritis (LN). However, there is insufficient knowledge regarding renal function recovery in patients with LN with reduced baseline renal function.
Objectives
The present study aimed to investigate renal function recovery and related factors in patients with reduced baseline renal function.
Methods
The present retrospective longitudinal cohort study included patients with LN and reduced renal function. Reduced renal function was defined as an estimated glomerular filtration rate (eGFR) <60 mL/min/1.73 m2. Recovery of renal function was determined by eGFR >60 mL/min/1.73 m2 at 6 months after baseline, and factors associated with it were evaluated using logistic regression analysis.
Results
We included 90 patients with LN, with a mean eGFR value of 37.2 (± 13.9) mL/min/1.73 m2. Forty-six patients (51.1%) recovered their renal function after 6 months. On multivariate analysis, hydroxychloroquine use (OR: 3.891, 95% CI: 1.196–12.653, p = 0.024), prolonged LN (OR: 0.926, 95% CI: 0.874–0.981, p = 0.009), and high-grade tubular atrophy (OR: 0.451, 95% CI: 0.208–0.829, p = 0.013) were associated with renal function recovery. During follow up, 25 patients were on end stage renal disease (ESRD). Kaplan-Meier analysis revealed that renal function recovery after 6 months and lower probability of ESRD are associated.
Conclusion
In patients with LN and reduced renal function, renal function recovery at 6 months was associated with use of hydroxychloroquine and inversely related to longer duration of LN and higher grade of tubular atrophy.
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