ABSTRACT
Objective To identify the clinical differences between central nervous system (CNS) infection and neuropsychiatric lupus in patients with systemic lupus erythematosus (SLE). Method Clinical manifestations, lab test results and prognosis of 12 SLE patients complicated with CNS infections, hospitalized in Nanjing Drum Tower Hospital in the past four years, were reviewed and compared with those of 15 concomi-tantly treated patients with central neuropsychiatric lupus (NPL). Two-indenpendent samples t test, Mann-whitney test and Fisher exact test were used for statistical analysis. Results 83% of SLE patients with CNS infections were female and the average disease onset age was (37±4) years. As compared to neuro-psychiatric lupus patients (the control group), those patients with CNS infections (infection group) had lower lupus disease activity (SLEDAI score 14.3±1.6 vs 6.4±1.2, P<0.01) and took higher dose of corticosteroids [average prednisone dose (28.3±2.5) vs (8.4±3.0) mg/d, P<0.01 ] and more immunosuppressives agents (83% vs 33%, P<0.05) before the occurrence of CNS symptoms. Headache and fever were more common in the infection group (100% vs 46.7% and 91.7% vs 20%, both P<0.01) and simultaneously higher serum albumin levels [(34.2±1.2) g/L vs (29.9±1.6) g/L] were detected in those patients compared to the NPL patients (P<0.05). Cerebrospinal fluid examination showed that agents for a long time but without strong evidence of lupus disease activity, CNS infection should be considered at the appearance of headache and fever, and timely cerebrospinal fluid examination is required for the diagnosis.
ABSTRACT
Objective To assess the clinical features of newly diagnosed primary Sjogren's syndrome (pSS). Methods Patients were diagnosed according to the international consensus criteria for Sjogren's Syndrome published in 2002. Clinical manifestations and laboratory tests of 86 pSS cases hospitalized in Nanjing Drum Tower Hospital in the past two years were reviewed. Results Among the 86 patients, 95.3% were female and the average disease onset age was 38.6 years. The median time from disease onset to diagnosis was 6 months. Dry mouth, dry eyes and arthralgia were the most common symptoms. Hematologic involvement was found to be prominent in these patients (69.8%). The incidence of abnormal liver function, interstitial lung disease and pulmonary arterial hypertension was 19.8%, 8.2% and 5.8% simultaneously. Younger patients (less than 18 years old) had lower frequency of dry mouth and dry eyes but higher ffrequency of fever and lymph nodes enlargement than the elderly patients (P<0.05). Patients with positive anti-SSA or anti-SSB antibodies had higher incidence of hematological changes as well as ESR than those with negative auto-antibodia. Elevated globulin/IgG and positive antinuclear antibody or rheumatoid factor (P< 0.05). Conclusion pSS is not always a benign disease. Some patients will develop vital organ damages very early and thus need to be identified and treated in time. It should not be overemphasize the importance of dry mouth and dry eyes for the diagnosis of pSS, especially in young patients. Those patients who have fever, high globulin level and positive rheumatoid factor of unknown origin should be screened for pSS.
ABSTRACT
Objective To explore ultrastructure and cytoskeleton characteristics of bone marrow-deftved mesenchymal stem cells (MSCs) in patients with systemic lupus erythematosus (SLE).Methods MSCs were isolated from bone marrow of 2 SLE patients and 2 healthy controls.Their ultrastrnctures were examined by transmission electron microscope (TEM).The expression pattern of actin and vinculin was assessed by laser confocal microscopy (LCM).Results MSCs in patients with SLE presented with signs of ageing and lots of autophagosome could be found in most of the cells.F-actin was aggregated and condensed at the:border of cytoplasm.Vinculin was arranged disorderly and condensed in the cytoplasm.Conclusion The change of uhrastructure and cytoskeleton patterns of bone marrow derived mesenchymal cells of SLE patients may play an important role in the abnormal proliferation of these cells in vitro.