Pulmonary hypertension in systemic lupus erythematosus: prevalence, predictors and diagnostic strategy.

Objectives: To investigate the prevalence and predictors of pulmonary hypertension (PH) in patients with systemic lupus erythematosus (SLE) and to validate a diagnostic strategy.

Methods: 245 patients with SLE entered a screening program. Possible PH was defined as two consecutive systolic pulmonary arterial pressure (PAP) values ≥ 40mmHg by echocardiography.

Infectious complications of chemotherapy in clinically aggressive mature B and T cell lymphomas.

Background: Scientific literature on infectious complications of chemotherapy in lymphomas is often based on retrospective studies or clinical trials performed with selected patients. This population may not be representative of the routine clinical practice. We aimed to analyse the incidence and type of infections associated to standard chemotherapy in clinically aggressive mature B and T cell lymphomas (AMBTL) and to detect baseline variables predictive of the risk of infection in a cohort of unselected patients.

Prognostic factors in follicular lymphoma: the importance of beta-2 microglobulin.

Aims And Background: The Follicular Lymphoma International Prognostic Index (FLIPI) is a useful tool for the prognostic assessment of follicular lymphoma but beta-2 microglobulin (B2M) was not incorporated in this index. We aimed to compare the predictive value of B2M, FLIPI and other prognostic factors not included in the FLIPI index for overall survival (OS), complete remission (CR), and time to treatment failure (TTF) in a nonselected follicular lymphoma series.

Methods And Study Design: Retrospective univariate and multivariate analysis of the prognostic value (for OS, CR, TTF) of B2M, FLIPI and other prognostic variables in follicular lymphoma was conducted in a cohort of follicular lymphoma patients between 1987 and 2007.

Changes in vitamin D levels in patients with systemic lupus erythematosus: Effects on fatigue, disease activity, and damage.

Objective: To analyze whether changes in serum 25-hydroxyvitamin D (25[OH]D) levels affect activity, irreversible organ damage, and fatigue in systemic lupus erythematosus (SLE).

Methods: We performed an observational study of 80 patients with SLE included in a previous cross-sectional study of 25(OH)D, reassessed 2 years later. Oral vitamin D(3) was recommended in those with low baseline 25(OH)D levels.

Predictors of major infections in systemic lupus erythematosus.

Introduction: Infections commonly complicate the course of systemic lupus erythematosus (SLE). Our aim is to investigate the clinical predictors of major infections in patients with SLE.

Methods: A nested case-control study design was used within the prospective Lupus-Cruces cohort.

Transiently positive anticardiolipin antibodies and risk of thrombosis in patients with systemic lupus erythematosus.

Fluctuations in the titers of anticardiolipin antibodies (aCL) have been reported in systemic lupus erythematosus (SLE) patients, but their relation with thrombosis is not completely understood. Prospective inception cohort of 237 patients with SLE (American College of Rheumatology criteria). Positivity for antiphospholipid antibodies (aPL) was defined according to Sapporo criteria.

Bicompartmental kinetics of tobramycin analysed with a wide range of covariates.

The pharmacokinetics of tobramycin was studied in adult patients (N = 151) admitted either for initial suspicion of Gram-negative infection or for prophylaxis. In addition to age, weight, height and creatinine clearance (CrCL), a range of other covariates were also analysed, including type of pathology, co-medication, fever, sex and ethnicity (Basque or not). All patients received 100mg tobramycin every 8 h and samples were collected at three time points after the first dose and at two time points after the fourth dose and assayed with a fluorescence polarisation immunoassay.

High impact of antiphospholipid syndrome on irreversible organ damage and survival of patients with systemic lupus erythematosus.

Background: Thrombosis is a frequent cause of morbidity and death in patients with systemic lupus erythematosus (SLE). Whether antiphospholipid syndrome (APS) is the cause of increased irreversible organ damage and mortality in lupus patients is not well established.

Methods: Prospective inception cohort of 202 patients with SLE (American College of Rheumatology criteria).