[Homocysteine and high sensitivity C-reactive protein in patients with systemic lupus erythematosus, and their relation with diseases activity and cardiovascular risk factors]

Systemic lupus erythematosus [SLE] is an inflammatory multi-system disease with an unknown origin. In patients with lupus disease cardiovascular events is an important cause of mortality and morbidity. This study carried out to measurement of high sensitivity C-reactive protein [HsCRP] and homocysteine in patients with SLE and their relation with diseases activity and cardiovascular risk factors. This case control study carried out on 60 patients [55 females and 5 males] with lupus disease which referred to Clinical Research Center of Rheumatology, Mashhad, Iran and 30 controls [26 females and 4 males] during 2007-08. Information of subjects were gathered using SLEDAI questionare. HsCRP and homocysteine of subjects were measured. The level of low density lipoprotein [LDL], Triglycerid, hypertension and Body mass index [BMI] was assessed. Systemic lupus erythematosus activity was assessed by using SLEDAI so that if the score was higher than 10, lupus was called as active disease. Mean age was 28.8 +/- 10.3 and 33.8 +/- 9.13 years in SLE and control groups respectively. The mean of HsCRP in SLE patients were 3 +/- 2.42 mg/dl versus in controls were 1.58 +/- 2.1. The serum level of homocysteine were 12.3 +/- 1.93 micro mol/L and 24 +/- 8.13 micro mol/L in SLE patients and controls [P<0.001]. Mean disease activity was 15.37. There was no any associtation between homocysteine and HsCRP and disease activity. LDL, Triglycerid, hypertension had significant association with homocystein [P<0.05]. BMI and Triglycerid had significant association with HsCRP [P<0.05]. This study showed that there is no linear significant corrolation between homocysteine, HsCRP and disease activity, but there is significant corrolation between increase of homocysteine and HsCRP and cardiovascular risk factors

[Mucocutaneons manifestation in end stage renal disease patients under hemodialysis in 5th Azar hospital in Gorgan, Iran [2009]]

Mucocutaneons manifestations are common in hemodialysis patients.The aim of this study was evaluate the prcvalence of cutaneous and mucosal manifestations in end stage renal disease [ESRD] patients who are on the maintenance hemodialysis. This cross sectional study was performed on 100 [51 males, 49 females] hemodialysis patients in 5 Azar hospital in Gorgan, North of Iran during 2009. Patients selected on randomly based an all of them completely examined by a deramatologist for any changes in skin, hair, nail and mucous membrane. If necessary biopsy perform and refer to a pathologist. Data analysed with SPSS-13, mann-whitney, t-test, Chi-Square and Fisher tests. The average age was 49 +/- 12.3 years. The most common causes of ESRD was dibetes mellitus. The most common skin lesion was xerosis [78.3%], after that pruritis [39.1%] lentigo [34.8%] skin discoloration [32.6%] leukonychia [32%] thining of nail bed [24%] were common lesions. Lentigo was more common in female than male 42.85% vs 21.50% [p=0.042]. Xerosis [p<0.01], scaling [p=0.042], lentigo [p<0.01], folliculitis [p<0.01], idio pathic guttate hypopigmentation [p<0.01] leukonychia [p<0.01] and half and half nail [p<0.01] have meaningful correlation with age. There was also meaningful correlation between dialyis duration and skin discoloration [p<0.031] and leukonychia [p<0.041]. Clubhing and ca-p product also have meaningful correlation [p<0.027]. Pruritis [p<0.048] and skin fungal infection [p<0.047] [tinea versi color] also have meaningful correlation with serum ferritin level. Mucocutaneous manifestation were common in end stage renal disease patients