An Unusual Presentation of Cutaneous Bullous Lupus.

Drug-induced lupus erythematosus (DILE) is an autoimmune reaction that results in symptoms of polyarthralgia, fever, and cutaneous lesions and other manifestations. Several drugs have been documented to cause this disease, including procainamide, isoniazid, methyldopa, penicillamine, and hydralazine. Systemic lupus erythematosus (SLE) manifestations often occur after the patient has been taking the drug without complications for months to years.

An Elderly Gentleman with Acute Lupus Pneumonitis as the Initial Manifestation of Systemic Lupus Erythematosus.

Systemic lupus erythematosus is a systemic autoimmune disease, with presentations that vary within a population and across the lifespan of an individual. The disease afflicts childbearing women more than men and uncommonly presents in the geriatric population. Lupus pneumonitis is rare, with a reported incidence of 1-4%.

Effect of thrombopoietin receptor agonists on the apoptotic profile of platelets in patients with chronic immune thrombocytopenia.

Platelet survival depends upon mediators of apoptosis e.g., Bcl-xL, Bax, and Bak, which are regulated by thrombopoietin (TPO)-mediated AKT signaling.

Improved regulatory T-cell activity in patients with chronic immune thrombocytopenia treated with thrombopoietic agents.

Immune thrombocytopenia (ITP) is an autoantibody-mediated bleeding disorder with both accelerated platelet destruction and impaired platelet production. We and others have described impaired regulatory CD4(+)CD25(hi) T cells (Treg) numbers and/or suppressive function in ITP patients. Clinical trials using thrombopoietic agents to stimulate platelet production have shown favorable outcomes in ITP patients, but information on the immunologic responses of treated patients are lacking.