Serum procalcitonin does not differentiate between infection and disease flare in patients with systemic lupus erythematosus

Systemic erythematosus lupus (SLE) is a common autoimmune disease. Disease flares may mimic infection with fever, inflammatory syndrome and chills, sometimes resulting in a difficult differential diagnosis. Elevated serum procalcitonin (PCT) levels have been reported to be predictive of bacterial infections, but with conflicting results. The value of serum procalcitonin has not been assessed in large series of SLE. We aimed to describe the distribution of PCT levels in SLE patients with and without flares, to assess the factors associated with increased PCT levels, and to determine the positive and negative predictive values of increased PCT for bacterial infection in SLE patients. Hospitalized SLE patients were included in a retrospective study. Serum PCT had been assayed, or a serum sample had been frozen on admission, before treatment modification. Serum PCT, measured by an automated immunofluorometric assay, and SLEDAI were assessed at the same time. Some 53 women (median age: 33.7?years, range 16-76) and seven men (median age: 52.5?years?±?19) were included. The median SLEDAI for patients with flare (n?=?16, 28%) was 2 (range: 0-29). Five patients (8%) had systemic infection. Only one patient had increased PCT levels. Men had significantly higher PCT levels than women (0.196?±?0.23 versus 0.066?±?0.03, p?相似文献   

Disease activity in systemic lupus erythematosus patients with end-stage renal disease: systematic review of the literature

It is not unusual that patients with systemic lupus erythematosus (SLE) progress to terminal renal failure and subsequently require renal replacement therapy. Previous studies have shown that clinical and/or serological remission in patients with SLE is common in those who develop end-stage renal disease (ESRD). On the other hand, the persistence of lupus activity among patients undergoing long-term dialysis is not rare, either. The aim of this study is to define, by means of a systematic review, the course of SLE activity in patients who developed ESRD. Data were obtained through searches for articles in the MEDLINE (1966 to 2011), SCielo, and LILACS databases, using the following keywords: "chronic renal failure", "systemic lupus erythematosus", "end-stage renal disease", "lupus activity", "disease activity", "lupus flare", "hemodialysis", and "renal replacement therapy" and their corresponding translations in Portuguese. Twenty-four articles were found which evaluated the degree of lupus activity in patients with ESRD. Fifteen of these studies spoke of a substantial reduction of clinical and/or serological activity after the development of ESRD, while nine articles found that the amount of clinical and/or serological activity was similar to that of the phase prior to terminal renal failure, or it occurred in at least 50% of the patients studied. Although the majority of studies showed that lupus flares tend to decrease in frequency in patients who develop ESRD, in this scenario, one should be prepared to correctly diagnose a recurrence of the disease, as well as to perform appropriate therapy.     

Visceral leishmaniasis mimicking systemic lupus erythematosus: Case series and a systematic literature review

ObjectiveSystemic lupus erythematosus (SLE) is an autoimmune disease that may present manifestations that resemble other diseases. Visceral leishmaniasis (VL) is a parasitic infection whose hallmarks may mimic SLE symptoms. Here, we report a case series and evaluate the published, scientific evidence of the relationship between SLE and VL infection.MethodsTo assess original studies reporting cases of VL-infected patients presenting manifestations that are capable of leading to inappropriate suspicions of SLE or mimicking an SLE flare, we performed an extensive search in several scientific databases (MEDLINE, LILACS, SciELO, and Scopus). Two authors independently screened all citations and abstracts identified by the search strategy to identify eligible studies. Secondary references were additionally obtained from the selected articles.ResultsThe literature search identified 53 eligible studies, but only 17 articles met our criteria. Among these, 10 lupus patients with VL mimicking an SLE flare and 18 cases of VL leading to unappropriated suspicions of SLE were described. The most common manifestations in patients infected with VL were intermittent fever, pancytopenia, visceromegaly, and increased serum level of acute phase reactants. The most frequent autoantibodies were antinuclear antibodies, rheumatoid factor, and direct Coombs’ test.ConclusionIn endemic areas for VL, the diagnosis of SLE or its exacerbation may be a clinical dilemma. Hepatosplenomegaly or isolated splenomegaly was identified in the majority of the reported cases where VL occurred, leading to unappropriated suspicions of SLE or mimicking an SLE flare. Furthermore, the lack of response to steroids, the normal levels of complement proteins C3 and C4, and the increased level of transaminases suggest a possible infectious origin.     

Association between depression and sleep quality in patients with systemic lupus erythematosus: a systematic review and meta-analysis

Background

Currently, there is no consistent understanding of the relationship between depression and sleep quality in patients with systemic lupus erythematosus (SLE). This study aimed to explore the correlation between depression and sleep quality in SLE patients.

Methods

Five English (PubMed, Web of Science, EMBASE, Cochrane Library, and CINAHL) databases were systematically searched from inception to January 12, 2021. Two authors independently screened publications and extracted data according to set inclusion and exclusion criteria. Statistical analyses were performed with STATA 16.0. Data were pooled using a random-effects model.

Results

A total of 9 identified studies matched the inclusion criteria, reporting on 514 patients with SLE in the analysis. A moderate correlation of depression with sleep quality was found (pooled r?=?0.580 [0.473, 0.670]). Compared to good sleepers, patients with SLE and poor sleep quality had higher levels of depression (standardized mean difference?=????1.28 [??1.87,???0.69]). Depression was associated with subjective sleep quality (r?=?0.332 [0.009, 0.592]), sleep latency (r?=?0.412 [0.101, 0.649]), sleep disturbances (r?=?0.405 [0.094, 0.645]), daytime dysfunction (r?=?0.503 [0.214, 0.711]), the four dimensions of Pittsburgh Sleep Quality Index (PSQI), while no significant correlation was found in the other three PSQI dimensions.

Conclusion

Depression had a moderate correlation with sleep quality in patients with SLE. Patients with poor sleep quality tended to have higher level of depression than that of good sleepers. Awareness of the correlation may help rheumatology physicians and nurses to assess and prevent depression and improve sleep quality in patients with SLE.

     

Late-onset systemic lupus erythematosus in Northwestern Spain: differences with early-onset systemic lupus erythematosus and literature review

To further investigate into the epidaemiology of systemic lupus erythematosus (SLE) in Southern Europe, we have assessed the incidence, clinical spectrum and survival of patients diagnosed with late-onset SLE (age?≥?50 years) according to the 1982 American College of Rheumatology (ACR) classification criteria at the single hospital for a well-defined population of Lugo, Northwestern (NW) Spain. Between January 1987 and December 2006, 51 (39.3%) of the 150 patients diagnosed as having SLE fulfilled definitions for late-onset SLE. The predominance of women among late-onset SLE (4:1) was reduced when compared with that observed in early-onset SLE (7:1). However, the incidence of late-onset SLE was significantly higher in women (4.2 [95% confidence interval (CI): 3.1-5.6] per 100,000 population) than in men (1.3 [95% CI: 0.6-2.2] per 100,000 population) (p?相似文献   

Silica-associated systemic lupus erythematosus with lupus nephritis and lupus pneumonitis: A case report and a systematic review of the literature

IntroductionSeveral epidemiological studies have shown that silica exposure triggers the onset of systemic lupus erythematosus (SLE); however, the clinical characteristics of silica-associated SLE have not been well studied.Patient concernsA 67-year-old man with silicosis visited a primary hospital because of a fever and cough. His respiratory condition worsened, regardless of antibiotic medication, and he was referred to our hospital.DiagnosisThe patient showed leukopenia, lymphopenia, serum creatinine elevation with proteinuria and hematuria, decreased serum C3 level, and was positive for anti-double stranded DNA antibody, anti-nuclear antibody, and direct Coombs test. He was diagnosed with SLE. Renal biopsy was performed, and the patient was diagnosed with lupus nephritis (class IV-G(A/C) + V defined by the International Society of Nephrology/Renal Pathology Society classification). Computed tomography revealed acute interstitial pneumonitis, bronchoalveolar lavage fluid showed elevation of the lymphocyte fraction, and he was diagnosed with lupus pneumonitis.InterventionsPrednisolone (50 mg/day) with intravenous cyclophosphamide (500 mg/body) were initiated.OutcomesThe patient showed a favorable response to these therapies. He was discharged from our hospital and received outpatient care with prednisolone slowly tapered off. He had cytomegalovirus and herpes zoster virus infections during treatment, which healed with antiviral therapy.Review:We searched for the literature on sSLE, and selected 11 case reports and 2 population-based studies. The prevalence of SLE manifestations in sSLE patients were comparative to that of general SLE, particularly that of elderly-onset SLE. Our renal biopsy report and previous reports indicate that lupus nephritis of sSLE patients show as various histological patterns as those of general SLE patients. Among the twenty sSLE patients reported in the case articles, three patients developed lupus pneumonitis and two of them died of it. Moreover, two patients died of bacterial pneumonia, one developed aspergillus abscesses, one got pulmonary tuberculosis, and one developed lung cancer.ConclusionClose attention is needed, particularly for respiratory system events and infectious diseases, when treating patients with silica-associated SLE using immunosuppressive therapies.     

血清降钙素原对系统性红斑狼疮发热的鉴别诊断价值

目的 探讨血清降钙素原(PCT)水平在系统性红斑狼疮(SLE)患者发热的鉴别诊断意义.方法 检测54例伴有发热的SLE患者及20例缓解期SLE患者PCT值、C反应蛋白(CRP)浓度及白细胞计数等,比较PCT和CRP对诊断非病毒感染的敏感性、特异性、阳性预测值、阴性预测值等,评价它们对诊断SLE患者合并非病毒感染的价值.结果 PCT值在非病毒性感染(包括细菌、真菌、结核等)组为(1.10±0.98)ng/ml,明显高于病毒感染组[(0.30±0.16)ng/ml,P＜0.05]、非感染组[(0.13±0.13)ng/ml,P＜0.01]及对照组[(0.11±0.07)ng/ml,P＜0.01],而血清PCT值在病毒感染组、非感染组及对照组之间的差异无统计学意义.以血清PCT≥O.5 ng/ml为诊断非病毒感染的阳性阈值,敏感性76.4%、特异性94.6%、阳性预测值86.7%、阴性预测值89.7%、阳性似然比14.15、阴性似然比0.25.比较PCT和CRP的受试者工作特征曲线(ROC)下面积,PCT为0.935,CRP为0.798,差异有统计学意义(P＜0.05).结论 检测血清PCT对SLE患者并发非病毒性感染具有重要的鉴别意义,其预测感染价值优于CRP.     

Serum procalcitonin and C-reactive protein for differentiating bacterial infection from disease activity in patients with systemic lupus erythematosus

Abstract

Objective. To study the clinical value of procalcitonin (PCT) and C-reactive protein (CRP) in differentiating bacterial infection from disease activity in systemic lupus erythematosus (SLE) patients.

Method. PCT and CRP in active SLE patients complicated with and without bacterial infection were retrospectively studied. Bacterial infection was diagnosed by positive culture results or typical symptoms and signs combined with positive response to antibiotics. Disease activity of SLE was assessed by systemic lupus erythematosus disease activity index (SLEDAI).

Result. One hundred and fourteen active SLE patients were recruited, 47 of which were with bacterial infection and 67 were non-infected. PCT and CRP levels were significantly elevated in patients with bacterial infection (P < 0.05). The ideal cutoff value for PCT was 0.38 ng/ml, at which the sensitivity (74.5%) and specificity (95.5%) combined the best. The negative predictive value and positive predictive value to detect bacterial infection were 84.2% and 92.1%, respectively. PCT but not the CRP level in the septic patients was significantly higher than that of non-septic ones. Meanwhile, in patients with SLEDAI score of > 10, both PCT and CRP levels were higher in patients with bacterial infection, but the difference was only statistically significant for PCT (P < 0.05). PCT was significantly reduced after anti-bacterial treatment.

Conclusion. PCT test is superior to CRP test in detecting superimposed bacterial infection in active SLE patients. The levels of PCT are correlated with the severity of bacterial infection and can be used to monitor the response to antibiotic treatment.     

Celiac disease in a patient with systemic lupus erythematosus: a case report and review of literature

Celiac disease (CD) is an inflammatory condition of the gut with a known autoimmune pathogenesis. Many similarities exist between the pathogenesis of CD and systemic lupus erythematosus (SLE); it is still unknown whether there is an association. There are 13 case reports in the literature of both diseases occurring simultaneously. We report another patient who was diagnosed with SLE and 8 years later, developed CD. A review of the literature is also presented.     

The impact of flare on disease costs of patients with systemic lupus erythematosus

Objective

To evaluate both direct and indirect costs of systemic lupus erythematosus (SLE) patients with and without flares from a societal perspective, and to investigate the impact of the severity and clinical manifestations of flares on direct/indirect costs.

Methods

A retrospective cost‐of‐illness study was performed on 306 SLE patients. Participants completed questionnaires on sociodemographics, employment status, and out‐of‐pocket expenses. Health resources consumption was recorded by chart review and patient self‐reported questionnaire. The total number of flares and involved organs during the preceding 12 months were recorded. Multiple linear regression was performed to determine the cost predictors.

Results

Patients with flares were younger, had shorter disease duration, and had higher disease activity at the time of the assessment. The overall incidence of lupus flares was 0.24 episodes per patient‐year. Patients with flares used more health care resources and incurred significantly higher annual direct and indirect costs. The mean total costs per patient‐year were 2‐fold higher for patients with flares ($22,580 versus $10,870 [2006 US dollars]; P < 0.0005). Multiple regression analysis showed that the number of flares was an independent explanatory variable associated with increased direct costs. Patients with multiorgan flares or renal/neuropsychiatric flares incurred higher direct costs compared with those with single‐organ flares or with other organ flares.

Conclusion

Patients with flares incur higher direct and indirect costs compared with those without flares. Major organ flares incur higher disease costs than other organ flares. Treatments that effectively control disease activity and prevent flares, especially major organ flares, may reduce the high costs associated with flare in SLE.     

Preeclampsia in systemic lupus erythematosus pregnancy: a systematic review and meta-analysis

Clinical Rheumatology - The impact of systemic lupus erythematosus (SLE) on preeclampsia is still obscure. This study was performed to systematically assess the association between preeclampsia and...