ABSTRACT
Objective:To analyze the bone turnover markers in systemic lupus erythematosus (SLE) patients with different disease activity and the risk factors of osteoporosis.Methods:In this retrospective study, a total of 417 SLE inpatients were enrolled from the Department of Rheumatology and Immunology, the First Affiliated Hospital of Xi′an Jiaotong University, from March 2019 to June 2020. According to SLEDAI score, the patients were divided into 3 groups: 281 patients disease with inactive disease group; 99 patients with mild active disease group; and 37 patients with moderate/severe active disease. ANOVA test was used to compare the differences in serum bone turnover markers (PTH, NOST, VITDT, β-crossl, TP1NP, Ca and P) and bone density (Spine L 1~4 and left femur) among the three groups, and Tukey's method was used for the two groups comparison. Logistic regression analysis was used to investigate the risk factors of osteoporosis. Results:Serum VITDT, β-crossl and Ca levels were significantly different among the 3 groups ( F=11.66, P<0.001; F=7.22, P<0.001; F=29.38, P<0.001). Compared with patients in the inactive group, patients with both the mild disease group (VITDT: t=3.94, P<0.001; Ca: t=5.10, P<0.001) and the moderate/severe disease group (VITDT: t=3.33, P<0.001; Ca: t=7.19, P<0.001) had lower VITDT levels [(20.3±9.7) ng/ml vs. (15.9±9.3) ng/ml vs. (14.8±7.4) ng/ml] and serum Ca levels [(2.19±0.15)mmol/L vs. (2.09±0.21)mmol/L vs. (2.00±0.16)mmol/L]. Moreover, the moderate/severe disease group patients had much lower serum Ca levels ( t=2.36, P<0.05), compared with patients with the mild disease group. Compared with the patients with inactive group, both the mild activey group ( t=3.06, P<0.01) and the moderate/severe activie group ( t=2.99, P<0.01) patients had higher serum β-crossl levels [(419±316) pg/ml vs. (543±424) pg/ml vs. (586±343) pg/ml]. Compared with patients with the inactive disease group both patienes with the mild active group and the moderate/severe disease group patients had significantly decreased spine BMD ( t=2.75, P<0.01; t=2.71, P<0.01), Z-score ( t=5.65, P<0.001; t=4.70, P<0.001), T-score ( t=3.02, P<0.01; t=3.37, P<0.001), whereas, no difference was found between the mild disease group and moderate/severe disease group. Compared with the inactive group patients, both the mild active group and moderate/severe disease group patients had lower left femur BMD levels ( t=2.83, P<0.001; t=2.65, P<0.001) and T-score ( t=2.24, P<0.05; t=1.977, P<0.05) and no difference was found between the mild disease group and the moderate/severe disease group. Logistic regression analysis showed that age [ HR (95% CI)=1.080 (1.052, 1.109), P<0.001], BMI [ HR (95% CI)=0.801 (0.704, 0.911), P<0.001], SLEDAI score [ HR (95% CI)=1.047 (1.025, 1.076), P<0.05] and cumulative glucocorticoids dose [1.046 (1.006, 1.087), P<0.05] were associated with osteoporosis of SLE patients. Conclusion:Abnormal bone metabolism and decreased bone density are associated with SLE disease activity in SLE patients, especially in those with advanced age, low BMI and receiving high cumulative dose of glucocorticoids. Osteoporosis should be proactively prevented in the SLE patients.
ABSTRACT
The aim of this study was to evaluate the evolution of lupus activity in end-stage renal disease (ESRD) patients due to lupus nephritis and to determine the long-term prognosis. We reviewed the clinical courses of 45 patients with ESRD due to systemic lupus erythematosus (SLE). We analyzed the course of SLE following the onset of ESRD, with special attention to the clinical and serological manifestations, survival time on dialysis, and renal transplantation outcome. Disease activity was measured using the SLE Disease Activity Index (SLEDAI). Of the 45 patients, 21 patients were being treated with hemodialysis (HD), 11 were undergoing peritoneal dialysis (PD), and 13 underwent transplantation. Duration of follow- up was 53 +/- 29 months. The SLEDAI score on commencement of renal replacement therapy was not significantly different among the 3 groups (HD: 4.2 +/- 4.2, PD: 4.3 +/- 2.3, Transplant: 3.2 +/- 1.9). However, disease activity scored by follow-up maximal SLEDAI during dialysis or transplantation showed a significant increase after peritoneal dialysis (HD: 5.0 +/- 3.6, PD: 7.4 +/- 3.7, Transplant: 2.2 +/- 1.7, p < 0.05). When the individual changes in the maximal SLEDAI score were considered, a significant increase was apparent after peritoneal dialysis (p < 0.05), but not after either hemodialysis or renal transplantation. There was no significant difference in cumulative survival rate, and also in technique or graft survival rates of the 3 groups. Among the variables tested, follow-up maximal SLEDAI score was the only significant factor associated with patient survival (odds ratio: 1.15, p < 0.05). The incidence (36% versus 19%) of high disease activity was greater, but not significantly, in the peritoneal dialysis group, as compared to the hemodialysis group. Clinical activity of SLE was apparent in 65% of patients in the first year of dialysis, but none showed any activity after the third year of dialysis. We found that although lupus disease activity declined after patients progressed to ESRD, lupus disease activity still affected patients' survival. An incremental increase in postdialysis lupus activity was not uncommon, especially during the first one year of dialysis. During the follow-up period, maximal SLEDAI score increased significantly after peritoneal dialysis. However, the long-term prognosis was not significantly different according to the treatment modality.