Multicenter lupus register from Argentina, the RELESSAR database: Influence of ethnicity on disease phenotype.

Objective: The objective is to describe the main characteristics of patients with systemic lupus erythematosus (SLE) in Argentina and to examine the influence of ethnicity on the expression of the disease.

Patients And Methods: RELESSAR is a multicentre register carried out by 106 researchers from 67 rheumatologic Argentine centres. It is a cross-sectional study of SLE (1982/1997 ACR) patients.

Assessment of the Sources of Information by Patients With Rheumatic Diseases.

Objective: The aim of this study was to ascertain the frequency of use, search intent (SI), level of accessibility, and degree of reliability of sources of information (SOIs) in rheumatology.

Methods: A survey among adult outpatients with rheumatoid arthritis, systemic lupus erythematosus, systemic sclerosis, and spondyloarthritis was conducted. They were asked if they had procured information from 12 selected SOIs during the past year.

Glucocorticoids in . Ten Questions and Some Issues.

Since the discovery of glucocorticoids (GCs), their important anti-inflammatory effect, rapid mechanism of action, low cost, and accessibility have made them one of the mainstays of treatment for (SLE). Although their use has allowed controlling the disease and reducing acute mortality in severe conditions, the implementation of a scheme based on high doses for long periods has inevitably been accompanied by an increase in adverse effects and infections, including long-term damage. The objective of this review is to answer some important questions that may arise from its use in daily clinical practice, and to propose a paradigm based on the use of methylprednisolone pulses followed by medium-low doses and a rapid decrease of prednisone.

Survey on transportation and storage of biological therapies by patients.

Objective: To assess key aspects of transportation and storage of biological therapies (BTs) on the part of the patients, from the time they collect them from the pharmacy up until the moment of administration.

Methods: This was a cross-sectional study in the form of a survey completed by outpatients older than 18 years who were administered BTs. The survey was carried out by the authors between August 2016 and January 2017.

Analysis of the data on pregnancy and lactation provided by patient information leaflets of anti-rheumatic drugs in Argentina.

To analyse the level of consistency and updating of the information on pregnancy and lactation provided by patient information leaflets (PILs) of the antirheumatic drugs approved in Argentina. Inconsistencies between the 2016 EULAR Task Force recommendations on the use of anti-rheumatic drugs during pregnancy and lactation and the information provided by PILs of the same drugs approved in Argentina were analysed along with inconsistencies within the PILs of different registered trademarks of these drugs. Eighty-eight PILs of 32 drugs were analysed.