Healthcare costs of systemic lupus erythematosus in New Zealand.

Objectives: This study aims to estimate the annual medical costs of systemic lupus erythematosus (SLE) in New Zealand (NZ).

Methods: SLE patients were linked to the Australia and New Zealand Dialysis and Transplant Registry, Pharmaceutical Collection, National Minimum Dataset, National Non-Admitted Patients Collection and Mortality Collection. National direct medical costs of SLE in 2006-2021 and annual costs per patient were estimated.

Hospitalizations in patients with systemic sclerosis: Differences between limited and diffuse cutaneous subtypes.

Aim: Systemic sclerosis is associated with significant morbidity and mortality. It remains unclear from the literature if there are differences between the subtypes of systemic sclerosis and the rate of hospitalization. Our study investigates the rates of all types of hospitalizations between limited and diffuse cutaneous systemic sclerosis.

Treatment patterns in patients with systemic lupus erythematosus in New Zealand.

Objectives: This study aims to explore the treatment pattern of systemic lupus erythematosus (SLE) in Aotearoa/New Zealand.

Methods: SLE patients were linked to the pharmaceutical dispensing data. The use of publicly funded anti-malarials, immunomodulators, biologics, glucocorticoids and bisphosphonates were compared by gender, ethnicity, age group, socioeconomic status and year of SLE identification.

Treatment Patterns for End-Stage Kidney Failure in Patients With Systemic Lupus Erythematous.

Background: This study aims to examine the treatment patterns of end-stage kidney disease (ESKD) among SLE patients and to compare the outcome of hemodialysis (HD) and peritoneal dialysis (PD).

Methods: SLE patients identified from the national administration dataset in 2005-2021 were linked to the Australia and New Zealand Dialysis and Transplant Registry to identify ESKD cases. The adjusted odds ratio of having PD instead of HD as the first treatment for ESKD for Asian, Māori, and Pacific compared with European/others was estimated with the logistic regression model.

Performance of a fast-track pathway for giant cell arteritis in Waikato, Aotearoa New Zealand.

Aims: Giant cell arteritis (GCA) is the most common primary vasculitis in adults over 50 years of age. To facilitate early diagnosis and reduce harms from corticosteroids and temporal artery biopsies, fast-track pathways have been established. We review the benefits of the fast-track pathway set up in Waikato, Aotearoa New Zealand.

Epidemiology of giant cell arteritis in Waikato, Aotearoa New Zealand.

Aim: Giant cell arteritis (GCA) is the most common primary vasculitis in adults over 50 years of age. Our primary objective was to assess the incidence and prevalence of GCA in Waikato in a bid to deepen our understanding of the epidemiology of GCA in Aotearoa New Zealand.

Methods: From January 2014 to December 2022, cases of GCA were identified prospectively and retrospectively through temporal artery ultrasound request lists and temporal artery biopsy histology reports.

Mortality and causes of death in systemic lupus erythematosus in New Zealand: a population-based study.

Objectives: This study aims to assess the mortality of systemic lupus erythematosus (SLE) patients and examine whether there are variations by subgroup.

Methods: SLE patients from 2005 to 2021 were identified from the national administrative datasets. The underlying causes of death were examined.

Prevalence and outcomes of end-stage kidney disease in patients with systemic lupus erythematous: a population-based study.

This study aims to examine the prevalence and outcomes of end-stage kidney disease (ESKD) among systemic lupus erythematosus (SLE) patients. SLE patients identified from the national administrative datasets were linked to the Australia and New Zealand Dialysis and Transplant Registry (ANZDATA) to identify the ESKD cases. Period prevalence of ESKD among SLE patients was calculated.

Incidence and prevalence of systemic lupus erythematosus in New Zealand from the national administrative datasets.

Objectives: This study aims to provide updated data on the incidence and prevalence of systemic lupus erythematosus (SLE) in New Zealand and to examine the difference between ethnic groups.

Methods: We identified the SLE cases from the national administrative datasets. The date of first identification of SLE was the earliest date of a related inpatient event or the earliest date of a related outpatient event.

Breast cancer, dermatofibromas and arsenic.

Background: Dermatofibromas are common benign tumors in women, and breast cancer is the most common malignancy in women. The aim of this study is to determine if there is any relationship between the two conditions.

Materials And Methods: Five patients with dermatofibromas and 10 control patients (two groups) had their skin biopsies measured for arsenic by inductively coupled mass spectrometry.

Parkinson's disease, macular degeneration and cutaneous signs of mercury toxicity.

Objective: The objective of this study was to determined if there was a relationship between Grover's disease and Parkinson disease.

Methods: Fourteen patients with Parkinson disease and 14 control patients were randomly selected and examined for cutaneous eruptions and blood mercury levels.

Results: Of the 14 patients with Parkinson's disease, 13 had Grover's disease and detectable blood mercury.

A new cutaneous sign of mercury poisoning?

Chronic mercury poisoning is becoming a health concern because of extensive pollution of water and fish, and the increasing consumption of fish in the human diet. Mercury is extremely toxic to the body, especially the central nervous system, but diagnosis is difficult because of the lack of specific signs. A total of 11 patients were observed to have a nonpruritic or mildly pruritic discreet papular and papulovesicular eruption that correlated with high blood mercury levels.

Primary anetoderma.

The authors report a case of primary anetoderma in a 27-year-old black woman. Primary anetoderma is characterized by circumscribed oval plaques with overlying loose, wrinkled skin appearing as a depression or pouch-like protrusion of the skin.

The safety of long-term clindamycin therapy for acne.

Sixty patients with severe pustular and cystic acne were treated for prolonged periods with clindamycin (150 mg to 300 mg daily). The average duration of therapy was five months, with 18 patients being treated for more than six months. Only two (3.

The significance of a positive cutaneous immunofluorescence test in systemic lupus erythematosus.

Direct cutaneous immunofluorescence microscopical examination of uninvolved skin is an important diagnostic test in systemic lupus erythematosus. Its prognostic significance is undetermined. In twenty-four patients there was an increased incidence of leukopenia, hypocomplementaemia, and LE cells in patients with positive skin immunofluorescence.

Tetany, malabsorption, and mastocytosis.

Mastocytosis is characterized by increased proliferation of mast cells. Two patients had systemic mastocytosis involving the skin and gastrointestinal tract, complicated by malabsorption and tetany. Absorption studies in these patients suggested that the entire small bowel was involved and that the defect was mild in the absence of diarrhea.