Use of complementary medicine in systemic lupus erythematosus patients in Malaysia

Aim: To determine the prevalence of the use of complementary medicine in patients with systemic lupus erythematosus (SLE). Method: A prospective survey was conducted of 132 patients using a standard questionnaire. Results: Of the 132 patients, 15.2% were on alternative therapy and 56.7% were taking food supplements. The common types of alternative therapy taken were oral traditional herbs (50%) and noni juice (20%). Vitamin C, calcium, vitamin E, vitamin B, Spirulina, evening primrose oil, fish oil and multivitamins were the commonest food supplements. There was no significant relationships between taking alternative treatment and educational level (P = 0.16), income (P = 0.05) or race (P = 0.42) of the patients. The majority of these patients took these therapies or supplements for up to 1 year. Up to 70% of the patients had not consulted a doctor before taking these therapies, with immediate family members and friends being the main sources of recommendation. The majority of patients spent RM50?RM500 (US$13?US$132) for 2 months’ supply of medications. In conclusion, 15.2% of SLE patients in our study were on alternative therapy and 57.6% on food supplements. Conclusion: Physicians should be aware of these practices which should be taken into account during the history‐taking and subsequent management of the patients.     

Pregnancy in systemic lupus erythematosus

Issues concerning contraception, fertility, and pregnancy usually arise during a typical lupus patient's disease course. Pregnancy superimposed on established lupus may alter the course of the disease, and, conversely, lupus may affect the natural history of pregnancy. Two recently described autoantibody markers, anti-SSA (Ro) and anticardiolipin, have provided new insights concerning fetal risks in these patients. Furthermore, they should lead to improved understanding of mechanisms of tissue injury and to new ideas about therapeutic interventions and/or prevention of pregnancy complications.     

系统性红斑狼疮与高同型半胱氨酸血症的临床研究

目的　观察系统性红斑狼疮 (SLE)患者血浆中同型半胱氨酸 (Hcy)水平 ,分析影响Hcy的因素和某些心血管因素的变化。 方法　测定 2 7例SLE和 31名正常对照的Hcy、维生素B12 、叶酸、C反应蛋白 (CRP)、氧化低密度脂蛋白 (oxLDL)、一氧化氮 (NO)、丙二醛 (MDA)的水平和亚甲基四氢叶酸还原酶 (MTHFR)基因 6 77位的多态性。结果　①SLE组Hcy水平明显较对照组高 ,其差异有显著性 [SLE组 (19± 7) μmol/L ,对照组 (12± 4 ) μmol/L ,P <0 0 0 1];②Hcy与维生素B12 、叶酸呈负相关 ,相关系数分别为 - 0 76 7和 - 0 6 7,P <0 0 0 0 1;③MTHFR基因 6 77位CT的突变使Hcy水平升高 [CC型 (12 8± 6 2 ) μmol/L ,CT型 (16 0± 2 1) μmol/L ,TT型 (18 9± 5 7) μmol/L ,P<0 0 0 1];TT基因型是高Hcy血症的易感基因 ,相对危险度 (RR) =31 4 9,P <0 0 5 ;TT基因型是SLE的易感基因 ,RR =6 913,P <0 0 5 ;④Hcy水平与NO、MDA、oxLDL呈正相关 ,并与CRP呈正相关。结论　①SLE患者普遍有高Hcy血症。②导致高Hcy血症的原因包括叶酸、维生素B12 的水平降低和MTHFR基因的突变 ,TT型基因是Hcy异常升高的易感基因。③TT型基因也是SLE的易感基因。④高Hcy血症可能通过损伤血管内皮 ,大量产生氧自由基 ,加速低密度     

Dehydroepiandrosterone in systemic lupus erythematosus

Objective. To determine if dehydroepiandrosterone (DHEA) is beneficial in the treatment of systemic lupus erythematosus (SLE). Methods. In a double-blind, placebo-controlled, randomized trial, 28 female patients with mild to moderate SLE were given DHEA 200 mg/day or placebo for 3 months. Outcomes included the SLE Disease Activity Index (SLEDAI) score, patient's and physician's overall assessments of disease activity, and concurrent corticosteroid dosages (which were adjusted as clinically indicated). Results. In the patients who were receiving DHEA, the SLEDAI score, patient's and physician's overall assessment of disease activity, and concurrent prednisone dosage decreased, while in the patients taking placebo, small increases were seen. The difference in patient's assessment between the groups was statistically significant (P = 0.022, adjusted). Lupus flares occurred more frequently in the placebo group (P = 0.053). Mild acne was a frequent side effect of DHEA. Conclusion. DHEA may be useful as a therapeutic agent for the treatment of mild to moderate SLE. Further studies of DHEA in the treatment of SLE are warranted.     

Immunoadsorption in systemic lupus erythematosus

Plasmapheresis and immunoadsorption (IA) have been introduced into the therapeutic strategy of patients with systemic lupus erythematosus (SLE) and severe organ involvement. Despite numerous reports about the clinical efficacy of extracorporeal treatments controlled studies have failed to show significant advantages compared with standard immunosuppressive treatment. We describe the historical development of plasmapheresis‐based IA‐techniques with special comments on substitution fluids and especially immunoglobuline (Ig) specific adsorption columns. In addition, an overview is given of our clinical experience with different columns and a new strategy of aggressive Ig lowering combined with standard cyclophosphamide pulse therapy in SLE patients with severe organ involvement.     

Interferon-alpha in systemic lupus erythematosus

PURPOSE OF REVIEW: To describe the lines of evidence supporting a significant role for interferon-alpha (IFNalpha) in the pathogenesis of systemic lupus erythematosus (SLE) and to propose potential mechanisms by which IFNalpha contributes to the autoimmunity and immune dysfunction of SLE. RECENT FINDINGS: Long-standing data indicating elevated levels of IFNalpha in the circulation of patients with SLE have recently been supplemented by reports from clinical practice, gene expression data, analysis of patient cells studied ex vivo, and studies of mechanisms of induction of IFNalpha production to provide complementary data strongly supporting a pathogenic role for IFNalpha in SLE. Recombinant IFNalpha, when administered as a therapy to patients with malignancy or hepatitis infection, can induce SLE. IFNalpha-regulated genes are highly expressed in SLE peripheral blood cells compared with cells from control subjects. Functional alterations of SLE mononuclear cells have been attributed to effects of IFNalpha. In addition, immune complexes bearing lupus autoantibodies and RNA or DNA have been shown to induce IFNalpha production. Finally, progress in understanding the role of Toll-like receptors (TLR) in the activation of the innate immune response has suggested potential mechanisms by which adjuvant-like factors act through TLR to induce IFNalpha as well as effective processing of self-antigens, resulting in activation of an adaptive immune response directed against self, as well as cytokine-mediated immune dysfunction. SUMMARY: Substantial evidence supports a significant role for IFNalpha in the pathogenesis of lupus. The IFNalpha pathway represents a promising target for therapeutic intervention in patients with SLE.     

Fatigue in systemic lupus erythematosus

Systemic lupus erythematosus is a chronic inflammatory autoimmune disease often characterized by fatigue, with significant effects on physical functioning and wellbeing. The definition, prevalence and factors associated with fatigue, including physical activity, obesity, sleep, depression, anxiety, mood, cognitive dysfunction, vitamin D deficiency/insufficiency, pain, effects of medications and comorbidities, as well as potential therapeutic options of fatigue in the systemic lupus erythematosus population are reviewed. Due to variability in the reliability and validity of various fatigue measures used in clinical studies, clinical trial data have been challenging to interpret. Further investigation into the relationships between these risk factors and fatigue, and improved measures of fatigue, may lead to an improvement in the management of this chronic inflammatory disease.     

Infections in systemic lupus erythematosus

Infections are an important cause of morbidity and mortality in systemic lupus erythematosus (SLE). Survival rates for SLE patients in developing countries are comparatively lower than those reported in industrialized countries, with early death from infection and active disease. In addition to the role of immunosuppressive agents in enhancing susceptibility to infection, infectious agents are also known to trigger lupus disease expression and activity. The endemicity of certain infections like tuberculosis further poses a special health issue in developing countries.     

Methotrexate in systemic lupus erythematosus

The most appropriate treatment of moderate, nonorgan threatening disease activity in systemic lupus erythematosus (SLE) remains poorly defined, although methotrexate (MTX) is commonly used. The results of 20 uncontrolled case series and a single retrospective cohort study tend to support its use to treat active skin and joint disease. Unfortunately, three prospective randomized trials have reported conflicting results. Two reported improvement in overall disease activity and decreased corticosteroid requirement with MTX. The third trial showed no benefit from MTX for disease activity, but did report a reduction in corticosteroid requirements. Difficulties in conducting trials in moderately active SLE are discussed.     

Dehydroepiandrosterone in systemic lupus erythematosus

Dehydroepiandrosterone (DHEA) is a weak androgen that exerts pleomorphic effects on the immune system. The hormone has no known receptor, and consequently, its mechanism of action on immunocompetent cells remains poorly understood. Interestingly, serum levels of DHEA are decreased in patients with inflammatory diseases including lupus, and these levels seem to correlate inversely with disease activity. Following encouraging studies demonstrating beneficial effects of DHEA supplementation in murine lupus models, several clinical studies have tested the effect of DHEA in lupus patients. DHEA treatment could improve overall quality-of-life assessment measures and glucocorticoid requirements in some lupus patients with mild to moderate disease; however, DHEA’s effect on disease activity in lupus patients remains controversial. Long-term safety studies are required in light of the reported effect of DHEA supplementation in lowering high-density lipoprotein cholesterol in lupus patients.     

Granulopoiesis in systemic lupus erythematosus

The pathogenesis of granulopoietic failure in systemic lupus erythematosus (SLE) was studied. In 16 Japanese women with SLE, a decreased number of granulocyte/monocyte progenitor cells (CFU-C) in the bone marrow was demonstrated, and the number of CFU-C correlated significantly with the peripheral blood granulocyte/monocyte count. The peripheral and bone marrow T lymphocytes suppressed the colony formation of autologous or allogeneic bone marrow CFU-C. These findings suggest that the decreased marrow CFU-C may be due to suppression by T lymphocytes, an event that may play an important role in the pathogenesis of granulopoietic failure in SLE.