Overlap syndrome of anti-aquaporin-4 positive neuromyelitis optica spectrum disorder and systemic lupus erythematosus: A systematic review of individual patient data.

Background: Neurological involvement can occur in systemic lupus erythematosus (SLE) due to co-existing neuromyelitis optica spectrum disorder (NMOSD). The symptoms can mimic those of neuropsychiatric manifestations of SLE. Pathogenic anti-aquaporin-4 (AQP4) antibodies, commonly found in NMOSD, are responsible for the neuroinflammatory response and secondary demyelinating lesions.

Comparison of two doses of leucovorin in severe low-dose methotrexate toxicity - a randomized controlled trial.

Background: Leucovorin (folinic acid) is a commonly used antidote for severe toxicity with low-dose methotrexate, but its optimum dose is unclear, varying from 15 to 25 mg every 6-h.

Methods: Open-label RCT included patients with severe low-dose (≤ 50 mg/week) methotrexate toxicity defined as WBC ≤ 2 × 10^9/L or platelet ≤ 50 × 10^9/L and randomized them to receive either usual (15 mg) or high-dose (25 mg) intravenous leucovorin given every 6-h. Primary outcome was mortality at 30-days and secondary outcomes were hematological recovery and mucositis recovery.

Subtrochanteric Pathological Femur Fracture in an HIV-Positive Patient on Tenofovir-based antiretroviral therapy: A Case Report and Review of the Literature.

Introduction: The population of people living with human immunodeficiency virus (HIV) and AIDS has increased and so is the incidence of fragility fractures in these patients. Multiple contributory factors are responsible for osteomalacia or osteoporosis in such patients such as a chronic inflammatory response to the HIV, highly active antiretroviral therapy (HAART) itself, and associated comorbidities. Tenofovir has also been reported to disrupt bone metabolism and causes fragility fractures.

Predictors of COVID-19 severity and outcomes in Indian patients with rheumatic diseases: a prospective cohort study.

Objective: There is dearth of data regarding the outcomes of coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19) among rheumatic and musculoskeletal disease (RMD) patients from Southeast Asia. We report the clinicodemographic profile and identify predictors of COVID-19 outcomes in a large cohort of Indian RMD patients.

Methods: This prospective cohort study, carried out at the Postgraduate Institute of Medical Education and Research, Chandigarh (a tertiary care centre in India), included RMD patients affected with COVID-19 between April 2020 and October 2021.

Scleroderma Renal Crisis is Associated with High Mortality: A Real-World Study from India.

Introduction: Scleroderma renal crisis (SRC) is a life-threatening complication of systemic sclerosis. Since the use of ACE inhibitors in this condition, there has been a significant reduction of mortality rates. However, there is limited data on characteristics and outcomes of SRC from developing countries.

Comparison of two dose escalation strategies of methotrexate in active rheumatoid arthritis: a multicentre, parallel group, randomised controlled trial.

Objectives: There are no head-to-head trials of different dose escalation strategies of methotrexate (MTX) in RA. We compared the efficacy, safety and tolerability of 'usual' (5 mg every 4 weeks) versus 'fast' (5 mg every 2 weeks) escalation of oral MTX.

Methods: This multicentre, open-label (assessor blinded) RCT included patients 18-55 years of age having active RA with disease duration <5 years, and not on DMARDs.

Ovarian dysfunction with moderate-dose intravenous cyclophosphamide (modified NIH regimen) and mycophenolate mofetil in young adults with severe lupus: a prospective cohort study.

Background: Ovarian toxicity is a dreaded complication of cyclophosphamide (CYC). With the use of lower cumulative doses of intravenous CYC (modified NIH regimens) and availability of better markers of ovarian toxicity, the incidence of ovarian dysfunction needs reassessment. Lupus disease activity, by itself, is also believed to affect ovarian function negatively.

Cyclosporine-induced pericarditis: an elusive cause of chest pain in Behçet's disease.

Behçet's disease (BD) is a variable-vessel vasculitis which commonly presents with recurrent orogenital ulceration, skin lesions, visual disturbances and neurodeficits. Arterial involvement is seen variably in 8%-18% cases of BD, with common affliction of the carotid, pulmonary, aortic and iliofemoral arteries. Cardiac involvement in the form of myocarditis, myocardial infarction, pericarditis, cardiac dysrhythmias or valvular disease is also known in BD, although rarely.