Vitamin D deficiency in patients with systemic lupus erythematosus

Hypovitaminosis D is common in the general population Many studies that have been conducted to show the association between vitamin D deficiency and systemic lupus erythematosus [SLE] reveal that deficiencies in vitamin D are common in this group of patients. Our aim was to study the relationship between 25 [OH] D and disease activity in patients with SLE, Retrospective cohort study of patients with SLE who were followed up at King Abdulaziz University Hospital, Jeddah, from January 2007 to November 2010. Demographic and clinical data were recorded and the 25 [OH] D levels of the patients were measured. Chi square tests. Students t-test, ANOVA and Pearson tests were used for data analysis. ANOVA test was followed by Bonferroni correction. A p-value <0.05 was considered significant. Ninety-five patients with SLE were enrolled in the study. The levels of 25[OH]D were significantly lower in patients with active SLE [n=41; 43%] than in those with inactive disease [n=54; 57%; p=0, 04]. The mean [SD] levels were 22.3 [14] nmol/L for patients with active disease against 25.0 [14] nmol/L for patients with inactive SLE. No correlation was detected between 25 [OH] D levels and disease activity score evaluated by SLEDAI-2K By Pearson correlation, a significant negative correlation existed between 25 [OH] D and anti ds-DNA [r=-038; p<0.001]; a positive correlation existed between 25 [OH] D levels and C4 [r=0.25; p=0.25]. By chi square testing, azathioprine treatment [OR=3.5], low C4 [OR= 2.23], low C3 [OR=1.92], and active disease [OR=1.6] were associated with 25[OH] D deficiency in SLE patients. Vitamin D deficiency is frequent in patients with SLE, Patients with SLE have a higher risk of developing 25[OH] D deficiency in the presence of low serum C3 and C4 levels, and high anti-dsDNA levels

Wilson's disease in a Saudi family

A Saudi family with Wilson's disease is presented. One member had symptomatic Wilson's disease leading to liver cirrhosis, portal hypertension, and neuropsychiatric syndrome but absent Kayser-Fleischer rings, while four other siblings had asymptomatic Wilson's disease. The patient with the symptomatic Wilson's disease will be presented and the significance of early detection is discussed. It seems that Wilson's disease may be under diagnosed in Saudi Arabia

Clinical pattern of systemic lupus erythematosus in the Western region of Saudi Arabia

Forty adult patients diagnosed as systemic lupus erythematosus [SLE] were studied over a four-year period from 1989 to 1992 in Jeddah. Thirty eight were females [95%]. The mean age of onset of symptoms and at diagnosis was early twenties. The clinical presentation was not different from that observed elsewhere, but the constitutional symptoms were more marked and multisystem involvement was common in 36 cases [90%]. The outcome was excellent, having a low mortality of only one patient [2.5%]