The BILAG2004-Pregnancy index is reliable for assessment of disease activity in pregnant SLE patients.

Objective: To assess the inter-rater reliability of the BILAG2004-Pregnancy index for assessment of SLE disease activity in pregnancy.

Methods: Pregnant SLE patients were recruited from four centres and assessed separately by two raters/physicians in routine clinical practice. Disease activity was determined using the BILAG2004-Pregnancy index.

Use of a strategy based on calculated risk scores in managing cardiovascular risk factors in a large British cohort of patients with systemic lupus erythematosus.

Objective: To develop a strategy for stratifying risk of cardiovascular disease (CVD) in a cohort of patients with SLE and to test the usefulness of this strategy in rationalizing management of cardiovascular risk factors.

Methods: For each patient, data were collected once each year to allow calculation of risk of developing CVD in the next 10 years. Those with risk values >7.

Prevalence of conventional and lupus-specific risk factors for cardiovascular disease in patients with systemic lupus erythematosus: A case-control study.

Objective: Patients with systemic lupus erythematosus (SLE) are significantly more likely to experience a myocardial infarction or a stroke than age-matched controls. We compared the prevalence of conventional and lupus-specific risk factors in patients with SLE just before a cardiovascular event and in matched controls with SLE but no cardiovascular disease (CVD).

Methods: Twenty-nine patients with SLE and CVD were enrolled.

Audit of the diagnosis, assessment, and treatment of osteoporosis in patients with ankylosing spondylitis.

Objective: Osteoporosis (OP) is a well recognized complication of ankylosing spondylitis (AS), but there is no clear guidance to its appropriate management. To establish what might be considered as reasonable practice we surveyed the current practice of consultant rheumatologists in the United Kingdom.

Methods: A questionnaire comprising 14 questions relating to the management of OP in AS was sent to 449 British rheumatologists.

How should clinicians manage osteoporosis in ankylosing spondylitis?

Osteoporosis is a common complication of AS, with an incidence between 18.7% and 62%. The prevalence of osteoporosis is greater in males, and increases with increasing patient age and disease duration.