Periodontitis is associated with higher subclinical atherosclerosis in patients with systemic lupus erythematosus.

Aim: To determine periodontitis prevalence in patients with systemic lupus erythematosus (SLE) and to assess whether periodontitis in SLE patients is associated with a greater subclinical atherosclerosis.

Methods: An observational case-control study was conducted in SLE (cases) and patients without any rheumatic diseases (controls), matched for sex. Sociodemographic and cardiometabolic variables were gathered, and SLE activity was assessed through several indexes.

Severe, life-threatening phenotype of primary Sjögren's syndrome: clinical characterisation and outcomes in 1580 patients (GEAS-SS Registry).

Objectives: To analyse the clinical features and outcomes of patients presenting with life-threatening systemic disease in a large cohort of Spanish patients with primary Sjögren's syndrome (SS).

Methods: The GEAS-SS multicentre registry was formed in 2005 with the aim of collecting a large series of Spanish patients with primary SS, and included more than 20 Spanish reference centres with substantial experience in the management of SS patients. By January 2018, the database included 1580 consecutive patients fulfilling the 2002 classification criteria for primary SS.

Potentially inappropriate prescribing according to STOPP-2 criteria among patients discharged from Internal Medicine: prevalence, involved drugs and economic cost.

Aim: This study aims to determine the prevalence of potentially inappropriate prescribing (PIP) among patients discharged from Internal Medicine, the drugs and factors associated and economic cost of PIP.

Methods: This retrospective cross-sectional, single-center study included participants aged ≥65 years consecutively discharged from the Internal Medicine Unit in a tertiary hospital of Southern Spain. PIP was defined by the Screening Tool for Older Persons Prescriptions (STOPP-2) criteria version 2 (2015 update).

Effect of ethnicity on clinical presentation and risk of antiphospholipid syndrome in Roma and Caucasian patients with systemic lupus erythematosus: a multicenter cross-sectional study.

Aim: To determine if there are ethnic differences in the prevalence of antiphospholipid syndrome (APS), clinical presentation and autoantibody profile between Roma and Caucasian patients with systemic lupus erythematosus (SLE).

Method: A cross-sectional study was conducted including data from Roma and Caucasian SLE patients consecutively attending six hospitals in Spain. Socio-demographic characteristics, prevalence of APS, clinical and analytical features of SLE and APS were compared between ethnic groups.

Relationship between QT Interval Length and Arterial Stiffness in Systemic Lupus Erythematosus (SLE): A Cross-Sectional Case-Control Study.

Introduction And Objectives: The QT interval on the electrocardiogram has been shown to be longer in patients with systemic lupus erythematosus (SLE) compared to that of the general population. The clinical significance of this finding is unknown. The aim of this study was to assess the relationship between QT interval and subclinical atherosclerosis, measured by carotid-femoral pulse-wave velocity.

Nighttime Blood Pressure Patterns and Subclinical Atherosclerosis in Women with Systemic Lupus Erythematosus.

Objective: To compare 24-h ambulatory blood pressure (BP) monitoring (ABPM) values and patterns in women with systemic lupus erythematosus (SLE) with those of a matched control group and their relationship with the presence of subclinical atherosclerosis.

Methods: ABPM was assessed in 70 women with SLE and in 65 sex- and age-matched controls without a history of clinic cardiovascular disease (CVD). Carotid-femoral pulse wave velocity (PWV), which is a marker of subclinical atherosclerosis and a predictor of future CVD, was measured.

Influence of psychological stress on headache in patients with systemic lupus erythematosus.

Objective: To compare the prevalence and disability of headache in patients with systemic lupus erythematosus (SLE) with the general population and to assess the role of chronic psychological stress (CPS) in headache development.

Methods: One hundred seventy patients with SLE and 102 control subjects matched for age, sex, and level of education were included in this multicenter, cross-sectional study. CPS, headache-related disability, and chronic analgesic intake (CAI) were evaluated in all participants.

Metabolic syndrome is associated with increased arterial stiffness and biomarkers of subclinical atherosclerosis in patients with systemic lupus erythematosus.

Objective: Aortic pulse wave velocity (PWV) is an independent predictor of risk for atherosclerotic cardiovascular disease. Metabolic syndrome (MetS) is more prevalent in patients with systemic lupus erythematosus (SLE) compared with matched healthy subjects. Aortic PWV is increased in MetS.