Neuropsychiatric manifestations associated with anti-endothelial cell antibodies in systemic lupus erythematosus.

Systemic lupus erythematosus (SLE) is a chronic autoimmune disease characterized by multisystem involvement due to immune dysregulation. Neuropsychiatric systemic lupus erythematosus (NPSLE) includes neurological syndromes involving the central, peripheral and autonomic nervous system, as well as psychiatric syndromes observed in patients with SLE in which other causes have been excluded. The pathogenesis of NPSLE has been attributed to many different mechanisms.

Fatigue and widespread pain in systemic lupus erythematosus and Sjögren's syndrome: symptoms of the inflammatory disease or associated fibromyalgia?

Fatigue and generalised pain are debilitating symptoms that negatively impact the quality of life in patients with systemic lupus erythematosus (SLE) and primary Sjögren's syndrome (pSS). Chronic widespread musculoskeletal pain and fatigue are the clinical hallmarks of fibromyalgia (FM), a clinical entity which can be associated to connective tissue disease. The aim of the present study was to assess the prevalence of FM syndrome, fatigue and widespread pain in SLE and pSS patients and to evaluate the contribution of inflammatory disease and FM on those constitutional symptoms.

Complementary treatment in fibromyalgia: combination of somatic and abdominal acupuncture.

Fibromyalgia is a complex syndrome characterised by widespread pain associated with a variety of other signs and symptoms. The emerging consensus indicates that the best approach to treatment involves the combination of pharmacological and non-pharmacological interventions. Since acupuncture is a tool of traditional Chinese medicine increasingly used as an alternative or complementary therapy for the treatment of pain, the present study aimed to combine two different acupunctural methods (the somatic and abdominal one) in the treatment of 30 consecutive female FM patients and to evaluate the reduction of pain and the well-being state.