Serum Uric Acid Levels and Subclinical Atherosclerosis: Results From the Brazilian Longitudinal Study of Adult Health (ELSA-Brasil).

High serum uric acid (sUA) has been associated with coronary artery calcium (CAC) and increased carotid intima-media thickness (cIMT) in people at high cardiovascular risk. However, association is unclear in apparently healthy individuals. Our study aims to evaluate association between sUA and subclinical atherosclerosis measures: CAC and increased cIMT, in apparently healthy adults enrolled in ELSA-Brasil.

Association of PDCD1 polymorphism to systemic lupus erythematosus and rheumatoid arthritis susceptibility.

Objective: This study aims to analyze the relationship of programmed cell death 1 (PDCD1) gene polymorphism (PD1.3G/A - rs11568821) with features of systemic lupus erythematosus (SLE) and rheumatoid arthritis (RA) in a Southern Brazilian population.

Methods: Polymerase chain reaction-restriction fragment length polymorphism (PCR-RFLP) was performed in 95 SLE and 87 RA patients and 128 control group individuals from Santa Catarina, Southern Brazil.

Association of PDCD1 polymorphism to Systemic Lupus Erythematosus and Rheumatoid Arthritis susceptibility.

Objective: This study aims to analyze the relationship of programmed cell death 1 (PDCD1) gene polymorphism (PD1.3G/A - rs11568821) with features of systemic lupus erythematosus (SLE) and rheumatoid arthritis (RA) in a Southern Brazilian population.

Methods: Polymerase Chain Reaction-Restriction Fragment Length Polymorphism (PCR-RFLP) was performed in 95 SLE and 87 RA patients and 128 control group individuals from Santa Catarina, Southern Brazil.

Axial gout is frequently associated with the presence of current tophi, although not with spinal symptoms.

Study Design: Prospective cross-sectional study.

Objective: To analyze the association of tomographically identified axial gouty lesions with clinical and laboratory characteristics.

Summary Of Background Data: Axial gout might be more common than previously thought.

Gout in the spine.

Axial gout can affect all segments of the spine. It is manifested as back pain, as pain associated with neurological symptoms, and as neurological impairment without pain in 17.9%, 75.

Lack of association between interleukin-18 polymorphisms and rheumatoid arthritis.

Objective: To assess the association of the polymorphisms of the interleukin-18 (IL-18) gene with rheumatoid arthritis (RA) and with risk factors for cardiovascular diseases (CVD).

Methods: This sample comprised 97 patients with RA and 151 healthy controls. In the patients, risk factors for CVD were analyzed, such as cholesterol levels, arterial hypertension, smoking habit, C-reactive protein (CRP) level, and rheumatoid factor.

Increased prevalence of simple renal cysts in patients with gout.

The aim of this study was to determine the prevalence of simple renal cysts in gout patients and evaluate associated risk factors for its development. Hundred and forty-six patients followed at our outpatient Gout Unit and 47 sex- and age-matched healthy kidney donors who had undergone routine renal ultrasonography, using a static gray scale and real-time B-mode units with a 3.5- or 5.

Single measurements of C-reactive protein and disease activity scores are not predictors of carotid atherosclerosis in rheumatoid arthritis patients.

Background: Although inflammation has a defined role in the pathogenesis of atherosclerosis, the link between rheumatoid arthritis (RA) parameters of disease activity and atherosclerotic findings are not defined.

Objective: To investigate the association between subclinical carotid atherosclerosis and clinical/laboratorial parameters of RA systemic inflammatory activity.

Methods: Seventy-one RA patients were consecutively selected and compared to 53 healthy controls.