The Efficacy and Safety of Cyclosporin A in Pregnant Patients with Systemic Autoimmune Diseases.

Problem: Cyclosporin A (CYS A) is an immunosuppressant agent administered in autoimmune diseases, and its use during pregnancy and lactation is a debated topic.

Method Of Study: The demographic characteristics, the activity of the underlying disease, and the onset of fetal-maternal complications have been investigated in 21 consecutive patients (2 RA, 14 SLE, 2 PA, 1 SjS, 1 DM, 1 Churg-Strauss vasculitis), treated with CYS A throughout 29 gestations. A subanalysis of the SLE group was performed.

European registry of babies born to mothers with antiphospholipid syndrome.

Objectives: This study aimed to describe the long-term outcome and immunological status of children born to mothers with antiphospholipid syndrome, to determine the factors responsible for childhood abnormalities, and to correlate the child's immunological profile with their mothers.

Methods: A prospective follow-up of a European multicentre cohort was conducted. The follow-up consisted of clinical examination, growth data, neurodevelopmental milestones and antiphospholipid antibodies (APL) screening.

Risk factors for pregnancy failure in patients with anti-phospholipid syndrome treated with conventional therapies: a multicentre, case-control study.

Objective: To identify the risk factors associated with pregnancy failure in patients with APS treated with conventional therapy.

Methods: A multicentre, case-control study was conducted to compare APS patients with successful and unsuccessful pregnancy outcomes. We retrospectively considered 410 pregnancies of women diagnosed with primary APS.

Risk factors for a first thrombotic event in antiphospholipid antibody carriers: a prospective multicentre follow-up study.

Objectives: To assess risk factors for a first thrombotic event in confirmed antiphospholipid (aPL) antibody carriers and to evaluate the efficacy of prophylactic treatments.

Methods: Inclusion criteria were age 18-65 years, no history of thrombosis and two consecutive positive aPL results. Demographic, laboratory and clinical parameters were collected at enrolment, once a year during the follow-up and at the time of the thrombotic event, whenever that occurred.

Anti-β₂-glycoprotein I IgG antibodies from 1-year-old healthy children born to mothers with systemic autoimmune diseases preferentially target domain 4/5: might it be the reason for their 'innocent' profile?

Background: Anti-β₂-glycoprotein-I (anti-β₂GPI) were demonstrated to be pathogenic in the antiphospholipid syndrome (APS). However, they can be detected in patients with no features of APS, especially those affected by systemic autoimmune diseases (SAD), and so in healthy children. It has been suggested that anti-β₂GPI against domain 1 (D1) associate with thrombosis, while those recognising domain 4/5 (D4/5) are present in non-thrombotic conditions.

Renal involvement in primary antiphospholipid syndrome: retrospective analysis of 160 patients.

Background And Objectives: The objective of this study was to evaluate the prevalence, clinicopathologic features, and outcome of renal involvement in a large cohort of patients with primary antiphospholipid syndrome (PAPS).

Design, Setting, Participants, & Measurements: We retrospectively examined medical records of 160 patients with a diagnosis of PAPS of two general hospitals of northern Italy between 1985 and 2008.

Results: There were 140 women and 20 men.

Antiphospholipid syndrome and pregnancy.

Since the 1960s, antiphospholipid antibodies have been known to be associated with repeated miscarriages and fetal losses. Other complications of pregnancy, such as preterm birth, with pre-eclampsia or severe placental insufficiency were also frequently reported and are included in the current classification criteria of the antiphospholipid syndrome. The titer, isotype or antigen specificity of the antibodies may be important in risk determination.

Autoimmunity and pregnancy: autoantibodies and pregnancy in rheumatic diseases.

In women who suffer from rheumatic diseases (RDs) the risk of repeated fetal loss, intrauterine growth restriction, and preterm birth remains higher than in the general population. Antiphospholipid antibodies are frequently observed in patients with systemic lupus erythematosus (SLE). They are associated with recurrent pregnancy losses that may occur at any age of gestation.

Increased prevalence of radiological spinal deformities in adult patients with GH deficiency: influence of GH replacement therapy.

Unlabelled: This cross-sectional study shows that a high number of untreated adult patients with GHD develop radiological vertebral deformities. Patients undergoing GH replacement treatment showed a significantly lower prevalence of vertebral deformities versus treated patients in the presence of similar BMD, as assessed by DXA.

Introduction: In this cross-sectional study, we investigated whether the prevalence and degree of spinal deformities in adults with growth hormone deficiency (GHD) were related to the age of patients, degree of bone turnover, BMD, and recombinant human GH (rhGH) replacement therapy.

Increased prevalence of radiological spinal deformities in active acromegaly: a cross-sectional study in postmenopausal women.

Unlabelled: This cross-sectional study shows that high numbers of postmenopausal women with acromegaly develop vertebral fractures in relation to the activity of disease. In patients with active acromegaly, vertebral fractures occur even in presence of normal BMD, whereas in patients with controlled acromegaly, vertebral fractures are always accompanied by a pathological BMD.

Introduction: We studied the frequency of radiological vertebral fractures in a cohort of postmenopausal women with active or controlled acromegaly.

Chronic glucocorticoid treatment alters spontaneous pulsatile parathyroid hormone secretory dynamics in human subjects.

Objective: Spontaneous parathyroid hormone (PTH) secretory dynamics include tonic and pulsatile components. It is not known how glucocorticoids might alter these secretory dynamics.

Design: The aim of our study was to evaluate spontaneous fluctuations in serum PTH levels in six adult male patients (aged 31-64 years) receiving chronic (>6 months) therapy with glucocorticoids (daily dosage >7.