ABSTRACT
Although there is increasing in bone metabolism in patients with rheumatic disorders, few data exist on bone mineral density [BMD] in children with rheumatic disorders or on the association of BMD with disease-related variables. We determined BMD in Iranian children with systemic lupus erythematosus [SLE] and juvenile rheumatoid arthritis [JRA] to evaluate the relationship between disease-related variables and BMD. Twenty patients [13 girls and 7 boys] with SLE [n=15] and JRA [n=5] with a mean age of 13.10 +/- 3.29 years [range, 6-17 years], attending a pediatric rheumatology clinic and 20 healthy controls [matched for age and sex with each patient] were enrolled in a cross-sectional study between 2001 and 2003. BMD [g/cm[2]] of the femoral neck [BMD-F] and lumbar vertebrae [BMD-L] were measured by dual energy X-ray absorptiometry [DEXA]. The correlation between BMD and cumulative dose of steroids, daily dose of steroid, disease duration, disease activity, height, weight, and age was investigated. BMD in the patients [BMD-F=0.72 +/- 0.15, BMD-L=0.70 +/- 0.19] was significantly lower than controls [BMD-F=0.95 +/- 0.17, BMD-L=0.98 +/- 0.20, P=<0.001]. The severity of descreased BMD was more prominent in lumbar vertebrae than the femoral neck [P=0.04]. None of the variables were consistently related to a decrease in BMD. BMD was significantly lower in patients compared with controls. It was more prominent in lumbar vertebrae [trabecular bone]. Although cumulative dose of steroids and diseaese appeared to have some influence on BMD, none were independently correlated with BMD
ABSTRACT
The pathogenetic mechanism of nasal polyps remains unknown, although allergy has been cited as an important factor in the etiology of nasal polyposis. Currently there is no definite histological criterion for differentiation of allergic from inflammatory nasal polyp. However, in a few studies, tissue eosinophil count has been used for this. This study aimed to find out the agreement rate of skin prick test and tissue eosinophil count in patients with nasal polyposis. Twenty five patients [18 males, 7 females] with nasal polyp were enrolled in this study. For each patient tissue sample from polyp material was taken for histopathological investigation. Moreover, skin prick test was performed for each patient using eleven common aeroallergens. Skin prick test was positive in 48% of the patients. Tissue eosinophil count of more than 50% was found in 75% of skin prick positive and in 69.2% of skin prick negative patients. Also tissue eosinophil count of more than 50% was found in 69.2% of patients with typical allergic symptoms as well as 75% of patients without allergic symptoms. No agreement was found between skin prick tests and tissue eosinophil counts in patients with nasal polyp. Also no difference was found between the tissue eosinophil counts in allergic and non allergic patients. Considering these results, it can be concluded that having a high tissue eosinophil count in patients with nasal polyp does not indicate that the polyp is allergic
Subject(s)
Female , Humans , Male , Nasal Polyps/immunology , Nasal Polyps/surgery , Skin Tests , Eosinophils , Rhinitis, Allergic, SeasonalABSTRACT
Allergic rhinitis is an extremely common disease worldwide. Aeroallergens are very often involved in allergic rhinitis and their prevalence may vary in different regions. The causative allergens of allergic rhinitis in our area are unknown. The purpose of this study was to determine the prevalence of skin reactivity to different aeroallergens in patients with allergic rhinitis in the city of Shiraz, Iran. A total of 212 patients who were referred to Motahari Allergy Clinic with chronic rhinitis were subjected to skin prick test [SPT] with a series of common allergenic extracts including grasses, weeds, trees, house dust mites and moulds. One hundred and thirty two subjects [62.2%] had positive SPT to at least one aeroallergen. Male to female ratio was 1.2 and mean age was 18.2 years. The prevalence rates for allergen groups were: pollens [92.4%], mites [22.7%] and moulds [8.3%]. Among 122 patients reactive to pollens, 92 [75.4%] showed skin reactivity to weeds, 78 [63.9%] to grasses and 68 [55.7%] to trees. Polysensitization was common, with 75.7% of all sensitized patients being positive to more than one aeroallergen. Pollens are the main sensitizing allergens among patients with allergic rhinitis in Shiraz. This pattern of prevalence was expected based on herbal geography, climate and also found to be compatible with the results from studies carried out in places with the same habitat