Ultrasonographic assessment of entheseal sites of upper and lower extremities in hemodialysis patients using Madrid Sonography Enthesitis Index.

Background: There is no much information about the entheseal involvement among hemodialysis (HD) patients. The aim of this study was to assess the frequency and distribution of ultrasonographic (US) entheseal alterations in HD patients and to evaluate the association between US abnormalities and both clinical and laboratory data.

Methods: This study was conducted on 41 HD patients and 23 sex- and age- matched controls.

Ultrasound detected synovitis, tenosynovitis and erosions in hand and wrist joints: a comparative study between rheumatoid and psoriatic arthritis.

Objectives: Musculoskeletal ultrasound (MSUS) has been introduced as a valuable simple imaging tool for arthritis. The objective was to assess the role of ultrasound (US) in the differential diagnosis between rheumatoid arthritis (RA) and psoriatic arthritis (PsA) at the wrist and hand joints and tendons.

Material And Methods: Thirty-five patients (20 RA and 15 PsA) with symptomatic involvement of at least one of the hand and/or wrist joints for > 6 weeks were included.

Clinical and histopathological features and short-term outcomes of lupus nephritis: a prospective study of 100 Egyptian patients.

Objective: The short-term outcomes of lupus nephritis (LN) are variable and unpredictable among individuals. We aimed to evaluate the clinical and histopathological features and short-term renal outcomes in LN patients.

Methods: This was a prospective cohort study carried out at nephrology and rheumatology units in Egypt between 2018 and 2019.

Pyodermatitis-pyostomatitis vegetans associated with autoimmune hepatitis: unreported co-existence.

Pyodermatitis-pyostomatitis vegetans (PD-PSV) is a very rare inflammatory disease characterized by exudative pustular lesions of the skin and mucous membranes. The pathogenesis is unknown, but it may be related to immune or infectious processes. It is usually associated with inflammatory bowel disease (IBD).

Musculoskeletal Symptoms in Hemodialysis Patients and their Effect on Health-Related Quality of Life.

Background/aims: Hemodialysis (HD) represents one of the most commonly used modalities as a renal replacement therapy. Health-related quality of life (HRQoL) is much lower in HD patients than general population. Musculoskeletal (MSK) symptoms are one of the most important health problems that affect patients on maintenance HD.

Association between CD226 polymorphism and soluble levels in rheumatoid arthritis: Relationship with clinical activity.

Objective: To study the relation between CD226 rs763361 gene polymorphism and CD226 serum level and to evaluate their role in susceptibility and disease activity of RA in a cohort of Egyptian individuals.

Methods: The serum level of CD226 was measured using a suitable ELISA kit and the CD226 rs763361 gene polymorphism was typed by PCR-RFLP for 112 RA patients and 100 healthy controls.

Results: Significant association with RA was found with CD226 T allele (OR (95%CI) = 1.

IRF5, PTPN22, CD28, IL2RA, KIF5A, BLK and TNFAIP3 genes polymorphisms and lupus susceptibility in a cohort from the Egypt Delta; relation to other ethnic groups.

Objective: To replicate a single nucleotide polymorphism (SNP) of known genes for lupus (IRF5 rs10488631, PTPN22 rs2476601, BLK rs2736340 and TNFAIP3 rs5029939) and other autoimmune diseases (CD28 rs1980422, IL2RA rs2104286 and KIF5A rs1678542) on a newly studied Egyptian cohort to investigate the genetic disparity with different studied ethnic groups in relation to lupus susceptibility.

Methods: 170 Egyptian patients from Egypt Delta with SLE and 241 matched healthy controls were genotyped by Taqman real time PCR for the selected SNPs.

Results: The results revealed significant association with IRF5 (p<0.

Diagnostic Performance of an Immunoassay for Simultaneous Detection of Hcv Core Antigen and Antibodies among Haemodialysis Patients.

Nosocomial transmission of HCV is a concern in haemodialysis (HD) units worldwide. Diagnosis of HCV infection among dialysis patients is currently based on the detection of anti HCV antibodies by ELISA, and is confirmed by HCV RNA. The average window period between HCV infection and seroconversion with new generations of HCV antibody tests remains approximately 70 days with more prolonged period among dialysis patients.

Clinical significance of antibody to hepatitis B core antigen in multitransfused hemodialysis patients.

Background: In spite of the progress made in the prevention of transfusion transmitted infections over the last few years, transmission of HBV infection through transfusion of HBsAg negative blood has been documented.

Objectives: To assess the frequency and clinical significance of anti-HBc in multitransfused hemodialysis patients.

Materials And Methods: One hundred and forty-three hemodialysis patients who had been receiving blood regularly with an average of 39.