Reversibility of pulmonary hypertension in systemic lupus erythematosus after induction immunosuppressive therapy: An inflammatory manifestation?

Objective: To evaluate the possible reversibility of PAH to a normopressoric state in SLE after induction immunosuppressive (IS) and predictors of response.

Methods: We retrospectively evaluated all SLE-PAH patients who underwent IS therapy at our center. PAH reversion was defined as the normalization of pulmonary arterial pressure (PAP), either by the presence of systolic PAP <40 mmHg on echocardiogram or mean PAP <20 mmHg on right heart catheterization (RHC).

Neuromodulation with aerobic exercise reduces fatigue in systemic lupus erythematosus: a randomised, sham-controlled, double-blind study.

Objectives: Transcranial direct current stimulation (tDCS) combined with aerobic exercise (tDCS-AE) effectively reduces fatigue in patients with fibromyalgia. However, no study has assessed this method in systemic lupus erythematosus (SLE) patients with significant fatigue. Therefore, we evaluated the safety and efficacy of tDCS-AE for significant fatigue symptoms in adult female SLE patients.

Short-term Accrual 2019 European League Against Rheumatism/American College of Rheumatology Domains and Systemic Lupus International Collaborating Clinics/American College of Rheumatology Damage in Lupus Patients With and Without Nephritis at Disease Onset.

Objective: To determine in a historical inception cohort the impact of lupus nephritis at disease onset in short-term accrual 2019 European League Against Rheumatism (EULAR)/American College of Rheumatology (ACR) domains. The possible association with treatment and damage was also investigated.

Methods: One hundred thirty-three consecutive adult systemic lupus erythematosus patients according to the 2019 EULAR/ACR criteria were divided according to the presence (RENAL-lupus) or absence of renal involvement (NONRENAL-lupus) at disease onset.

Immunogenicity decay and case incidence six months post Sinovac-CoronaVac vaccine in autoimmune rheumatic diseases patients.

The determination of durability and vaccine-associated protection is essential for booster doses strategies, however data on the stability of SARS-CoV-2 immunity are scarce. Here we assess anti-SARS-CoV-2 immunogenicity decay and incident cases six months after the 2 dose of Sinovac-CoronaVac inactivated vaccine (D210) in 828 autoimmune rheumatic diseases patients compared with 207 age/sex-balanced control individuals. The primary outcome is the presence of anti-S1/S2 SARS-CoV-2 IgG at 6 months compared to 6 weeks after 2nd vaccine dose for decay evaluation.

Immunogenicity, safety, and antiphospholipid antibodies after SARS-CoV-2 vaccine in patients with primary antiphospholipid syndrome.

Objective: Coronavirus disease 19 (COVID-19) has an increased risk of coagulopathy with high frequency of antiphospholipid antibodies (aPL). Recent reports of thrombosis associated with adenovirus-based vaccines raised concern that SARS-CoV-2 immunization in primary antiphospholipid syndrome (PAPS) patients may trigger clotting complications. Our objectives were to assess immunogenicity, safety, and aPL production in PAPS patients, after vaccinating with Sinovac-CoronaVac, an inactivated virus vaccine against COVID-19.

Hydroxychloroquine increased cholesterol transfer to high-density lipoprotein in systemic lupus erythematosus: A possible mechanism for the reversal of atherosclerosis in the disease.

Introduction: The beneficial effect of hydroxychloroquine (HCQ) in decreasing LDL levels on Systemic Lupus Erythematosus (SLE) is well defined. The influence of this drug on HDL levels is still under debate and information about its effect on cholesterol reverse transport is lacking.

Objective: To evaluate the effects of HCQ on HDL levels and the transfer of lipids to this lipoprotein in SLE.

Resolution of coronary arteritis following tuberculosis treatment.

Background: Coronary artery aneurysm (CAA) in an uncommon condition usually associated with atherosclerosis, but systemic vasculitides constitute important differential diagnoses. A less recognized cause of CAA, tuberculosis (TB) has also been noted to occur simultaneously in patients with such vascular abnormalities.

Case Report: A 60-year-old female presented to the Emergency Department with a non-ST segment elevation myocardial infarction.

Immunogenicity and safety of two doses of the CoronaVac SARS-CoV-2 vaccine in SARS-CoV-2 seropositive and seronegative patients with autoimmune rheumatic diseases in Brazil: a subgroup analysis of a phase 4 prospective study.

Background: We aimed to examine the immunogenicity pattern induced by the inactivated SARS-CoV-2 vaccine CoronaVac (Sinovac Life Sciences, Beijing, China) in SARS-CoV-2 seropositive patients with autoimmune rheumatic diseases compared with seropositive controls, seronegative patients with autoimmune rheumatic diseases, and seronegative controls.

Methods: CoronavRheum is an ongoing, prospective, controlled, phase 4 study, in which patients aged 18 years or older with autoimmune rheumatic diseases, and healthy controls were recruited from a single site (Rheumatology Division of Hospital das Clínicas, Faculdade de Medicina da Universidade de São Paulo) in São Paulo, Brazil Participants were vaccinated with two doses of CoronaVac (intramuscular injection, 3 μg in 0·5 mL of β-propiolactone inactivated SARS-CoV-2) on day 0 and on day 28. Blood samples were taken pre-vaccination on day 0, day 28, and also on day 69.

Impact of Distinct Therapies on Antibody Response to SARS-CoV-2 Vaccine in Systemic Lupus Erythematosus.

Objective: To date, the only study that has assessed the severe acute respiratory syndrome coronavirus 2 (SARS-CoV-2 mRNA) vaccine in systemic lupus erythematosus (SLE) observed a moderate response, but the sample size precluded an accurate analysis of the effect of individual drugs. Therefore, we evaluated the immunogenicity of an inactivated SARS-CoV-2 vaccine (Sinovac-CoronaVac) and the influence of different medications in SLE. Safety was also assessed.

Profiles of criteria and non-criteria anti-phospholipid autoantibodies are associated with clinical phenotypes of the antiphospholipid syndrome.

Background: Specific anti-phospholipids antibodies (aPLs) are used as classification criteria of the antiphospholipid syndrome (APS). These aPLs, although essential for diagnosis, do not predict disease phenotypes, which may require specific therapies. Non-criteria aPLs are rarely evaluated and their role is yet to be defined.

Intramastoid Phosphaturic Mesenchymal Tumor Causing Hypophosphatemic Osteomalacia Detected on Ga-DOTATATE PET/CT But Not on Tc-Sestamibi and F-FDG Scans.

Ga-DOTATATE uptake in mesenchymal tumors causing hypophosphatemic osteomalacia has been recently described. Herein, we present a case of Ga-DOTATATE uptake in an intramastoid phosphaturic mesenchymal tumor that had not been depicted in previous Tc-Sestamibi and F-FDG scans. The lesion was surgically removed and the phosphorus level increased to the normal range.

Short- and Long-Term Outcome of Systemic Lupus Erythematosus Peripheral Neuropathy: Bimodal Pattern of Onset and Treatment Response.

Background/objective: Our aim was to describe the short- and long-term outcome of peripheral neuropathy (PN) attributed exclusively to systemic lupus erythematosus (SLE).

Methods: Systemic lupus erythematosus patients with defined PN (clinical and electroneuromyography) were retrospectively evaluated at onset, 1-year, and 5-year follow-up using a standardized electronic chart database that started in 2000. Exclusion criteria were comorbidities, drugs, and infections.

Bone Metabolism Impairment in Heart Transplant: Results From a Prospective Cohort Study.

Background: Data on the prevention of fractures after heart transplant (HTx) are controversial in the literature. Understanding the effects of HTx on bone may guide appropriate treatments in this high-risk population.

Methods: Seventy adult HTx patients were followed for 12 months.

Early proteinuria response: a valid real-life situation predictor of long-term lupus renal outcome in an ethnically diverse group with severe biopsy-proven nephritis?

Objective: Two recent important lupus nephritis trials reported that proteinuria was a good predictor of renal outcome in Caucasians, but data on real-life situation, other races and severe nephritis are lacking to substantiate this finding as a simple test to guide clinical practice. The aim of this study was to validate proteinuria as a predictor of long-term renal outcome in real-life situation in a racially diverse group of patients with severe nephritis.

Methods: Proteinuria, serum creatinine (SCr) and urine red blood cells were assessed at baseline and after 3, 6 and 12 months, as early predictors of long-term renal outcome (SCr <1.

Pandemic non-adjuvanted influenza A H1N1 vaccine in a cohort of patients with systemic sclerosis.

Objective: To assess the possible effect of therapy, disease subtype and severity on H1N1 immunogenicity in patients with SSc.

Methods: Ninety-two patients and 92 age- and gender-matched healthy controls received adjuvant-free influenza A/California/7/2009 (pH1N1) vaccine. Blood samples were collected immediately before and 3 weeks after vaccination to evaluate antibody responses to the H1N1 virus.

ABO blood group in primary antiphospholipid syndrome: influence in the site of thrombosis?

Antiphospholipid syndrome (APS) is characterized by vascular thrombosis and/or obstetric complications associated with presence of antiphospholipid antibodies (aPL) but additional factors would also induce thrombosis. ABO (H) blood groups are known to be closely related to thrombosis, especially non-O blood type with venous events. The aim of this study was to investigate possible role of ABO (H) blood types in the thrombotic events in primary APS (PAPS).

Spondyloptosis in athlete.

The adolescent athletes are at greater risk of low back pain and structural spine injuries. Spondylolysis is responsible for the majority of back pain cases in young athletes, rarely occurring in adults. We report a case of a 13-year-old judo female athlete, who came to our service with 5 months of progressive low back pain during training which was initially attributed to mechanical causes, without any further investigation by imaging methods.

Acute physical exercise is safe in patients with primary antiphospholipid syndrome with exclusive venous thrombosis and under oral anticoagulation with warfarin.

The purpose of present study was to evaluate the effects of maximal acute physical exercise on prothrombin time/international normalized ratio (PT/INR) in patients with primary antiphospholipid syndrome (PAPS) under oral anticoagulation with warfarin and the safety of acute exercise in regard to thrombosis and bleeding risk. Eighteen physically inactive women with PAPS (Sydney criteria) with exclusive venous events and without thrombocytopenia were included. All patients were under stable warfarin therapy (PT/INR target: 2.

Long-term complications of past glucocorticoid use.

Glucocorticoids (GC) are essential in the management of several medical conditions but its long-term use is associated with complications in diverse organs and systems. The aim of the present study is to review the long-term complications of past GC use. Permanent damage related to GC can affect patient's life even years after its withdrawal.

Coronary aneurysms in a child: an unusual presentation of pseudovasculitis.

Abnormalities of the coronary arteries in children are rare and Kawasaki disease is the most common cause of acquired coronary disease in a paediatric population. We report a case of a female child with coronary artery aneurysms and convulsions, who was diagnosed with Kawasaki disease. Due to systemic arterial hypertension and persistence of high inflammatory markers after treatment with high dose glucocorticoid and intravenous immunoglobulin, further investigation was performed and revealed a pheochromocytoma.