Annual direct medical cost of active systemic lupus erythematosus in five European countries.

Objectives: To evaluate the annual direct medical cost of managing adult systemic lupus erythematosus (SLE) patients with active autoantibody positive disease in Europe.

Methods: A 2-year, retrospective, multicentre, observational study was conducted in five countries (France, Germany, Italy, Spain and the UK). Data included patients' characteristics, disease activity and severity, flare assessments and health resource use (eg, laboratory tests, medications, specialist visits and hospitalisations).

Value of immunologic testing in stroke patients. A prospective multicenter study.

Background And Purpose: The aims of this prospective and multicenter study were to determine the frequency of anticardiolipin and antinuclear antibodies in an unselected ischemic and hemorrhagic stroke population and to evaluate the clinical significance of these autoantibodies.

Methods: Over a 1-year period, we collected plasma from 481 consecutive patients with ischemic or hemorrhagic stroke attending four different hospitals. Blood (10 mL) was drawn from each subject into a citrated glass tube.