Behavioural, educational and respiratory outcomes of antenatal betamethasone for term caesarean section (ASTECS trial).

Objectives: To determine whether antenatal betamethasone prior to elective term caesarean section (CS) affects long term behavioural, cognitive or developmental outcome, and whether the risk of asthma or atopic disease is reduced.

Design: A questionnaire based follow-up of a multicentre randomised controlled trial (Antenatal Steroids for Term Elective Caesarean Section, BMJ 2005).

Setting: Four UK study centres from the original trial.

Baseline vWF factor predicts the development of elevated pulmonary artery pressure in systemic sclerosis.

Objectives: This study aims to examine the utility of von Willebrand factor (vWF) as a biomarker in lcSSc, in particular the ability of vWF to predict the future development of disease manifestations in this disease.

Methods: vWFAg concentrations were measured in the serum of patients with lcSSc at baseline and at 3 years, during the QUINs trial [Prevention of Vascular Damage in Scleroderma with Angiotensin-Converting Enzyme (ACE) Inhibition]. %DL(CO), %KCO, %FVC, pulmonary artery pressure (PAP) estimation by echocardiography, Raynaud's attack frequency, Raynaud's severity, digital ulcer frequency, urinary protein excretion, estimated glomerular filtration rate (eGFR), modified Rodnan skin score and Medsger disease activity score were also measured at baseline and 3 years.

Antinuclear antibodies and clinical associations in a british cohort with limited cutaneous systemic sclerosis.

Objective: To assess the prevalence of disease-specific autoantibodies in patients with limited cutaneous systemic sclerosis (lcSSc).

Methods: Sera from 180 patients with lcSSc were analyzed for antinuclear antibody (ANA). Clinical characteristics were compared in the presence or absence of specific autoantibodies.

Influence of clinical features on the health status of patients with limited cutaneous systemic sclerosis.

Objective: To determine the effect of limited cutaneous systemic sclerosis (lcSSc) on patients' health status, and to identify the contributions to health status of different manifestations of lcSSc.

Methods: The Short Form 36 questionnaire was completed by 213 patients with lcSSc or Raynaud's syndrome and an antinuclear antibody typical of lcSSc as part of the baseline visit of the Quinapril in Scleroderma trial. Results were analyzed after correcting for age and sex using the Welsh Health Survey.