ABSTRACT
Objective: To determine the frequency of cognitive dysfunction in patients with Systemic Lupus Erythematosus in a Pakistani population, presenting at a tertiary care Rheumatology setting
Methods: This cross-sectional study was conducted at the Division of Rheumatology, Fatima Memorial Hospital, Lahore, from March to June 2016. A total of 43 consecutive patients, who fulfilled the 2012 SLICC [Systemic Lupus International Collaborating Clinics] classification criteria for Systemic Lupus Erythematosus [SLE], were enrolled. Cognitive function was assessed using Montréal Cognitive Assessment [MoCA] questionnaire. Demographic data and disease dynamics were collected in a proforma. Cognitive dysfunction was defined as score < 26/30, adjusted for duration of formal education. SPSS version 16.0 for windows was used to analyse data and to calculate frequency of cognitive dysfunction
Results: Out of 43 enrolled patients, 95.3% were females and 4.7% were males, with mean age of 28.72 +/- 9.25 years and mean formal education duration of 10.98 +/- 3.29 years. The mean disease duration was 24.21 +/- 30.46 months. Anti-nuclear antibodies [ANA] were present in all patients and anti-ds DNA in 93% patients. Cognitive dysfunction according to MoCA score was found in 65.1% [n=28] patients. For patients with disease duration more than two years, cognitive dysfunction was found in 60% patients [p>0.05] and for duration of formal education less than 12 years in 74.1% patients [p>0.05]
Conclusion: In this study, two third of SLE patients had Cognitive dysfunction. Hence, there is an increasing need to recognise and initiate early therapy for this overlooked aspect of SLE with an aim to achieve better quality of life
ABSTRACT
Objective: To determine the frequency of dyslipidemia in patients with lupus nephritis and its association with the degree of proteinuria
Methods: This cross-sectional analytic study included 65 patients who fulfilled the ACR [American College of Rheumatology] criteria for SLE and had renal involvement, presenting to the Division of Rheumatology, Fatima Memorial Hospital [FMH], and Lahore from 21[st] Sep 2016 to 20[th] Dec 2016. After 12 hours overnight fast their blood samples were assessed for total cholesterol [TC], triglycerides [TG], high density lipoprotein [HDL] and low density lipoprotein [LDL]. Patient demographic variables [age, sex] and disease characteristics [disease duration, degree of proteinuria, steroid dose] were noted. Patients were categorized into two groups on the basis of degree of proteinuria: having proteinuria >1gm or
Results: Most common lipid abnormality found in our study was hypertriglyceridemia [58.5%]. Total Cholesterol and LDL-C was high in 55.4% and 30.8% subjects respectively. Low HDL was found in 21.5% subjects. Increased frequency of dyslipidemia was noticed in those subjects who had proteinuria >1gm [P value < 0.05]
Conclusion: Dyslipidemia was observed in a high frequency in patients with lupus nephritis and was strongly associated with their degree of proteinuria
ABSTRACT
Objective: To compare three different body fats estimation equations using skin fold measurements with bioelectrical impedance analysis
Methods: A total of 130 subjects were included from Department of Endocrinology and Metabolism, Services Hospital, Lahore from 1[st] April 2016 to 30[th] Sep. 2016. The triceps, biceps, subscapular, chest, thigh, abdominal, suprailiac skinfold thickness of the subjects was measured with skin-fold calipers [Harpenden] on non-dominant side. The percentage fat mass [% FM] predicted by using each skinfold-thickness equations namely Durnin and Womersley, Jackson and Pollock and Sloan was compared with % FM measured using a bioelectrical impedance analyzer [BIA]
Results: The mean age of subjects was 48.75 +/- 10.7 years, mean BMI was 29.08 +/- 6.09 kg/m2. The mean % FM calculated by Durnin and Womersley [32.408 +/- 0.584], Jackson and Pollock [24.658 +/- 0.527], Sloan [20.40 +/- 0.545]. The % FM by BIA was 38.182 +/- 0.529. All three equations showed positive correlation but underestimated % FM as compared to BIA
Conclusion: All three BF estimation equations underestimate body fat percentage compared to BIA. Among the three, Durnin and Womersley equation shows best positive correlation and hence it can be used for estimation of percentage fat mass as an alternate to BIA