Human leukocyte antigen and autoantibodies association with juvenile systemic lupus erythematosus.

In this study we investigated the association between autoantibodies production and MHC class II alleles in fifty three Egyptian children patients with systemic lupus erythematosus (SLE). A significant association was found between expression of HLA-DR4 and HLA-DR13 genes and the generation of anti-ribonucleoprotein and IgG cardiolipin antibodies respectively, in contrast to the negative association of antinuclear antibodies (ANA) with HLA-DR8 and HLA-DR14. Analysis of HLA-DR alleles and autoantibodies frequencies in relation to different clinical manifestations revealed significant association between HLA-DR13 and vasculitis, while, HLA-DR1 and HLA-DR3 were significantly associated with seizures.

A cross-cultural study of pain intensity in Egyptian and Dutch women with rheumatoid arthritis.

Unlabelled: It has been suggested that patients from Mediterranean cultures tend to report more intense pain than their Northern or Western European counterparts in comparable medical conditions. However, empirical data to support this hypothesis are limited. The goals of the present study were to examine differences in pain intensity reports between Dutch and Egyptian women with rheumatoid arthritis (RA) and to examine the influence of possible confounding variables using multivariate analyses.

The validity and reliability of the graphic rating scale and verbal rating scale for measuring pain across cultures: a study in Egyptian and Dutch women with rheumatoid arthritis.

Objective: To compare the validity and reliability of a graphic rating scale (GRS) and a verbal rating scale (VRS) for measuring pain intensity in young female Egyptian and Dutch patients with rheumatoid arthritis (RA).

Methods: Data were obtained in a cross-cultural study of 42 Egyptian and 30 Dutch female outpatients with stable RA. Construct validity was assessed by correlating the scales with other core measures of disease activity in RA.