[Clinical and immunological manifestations in SLE patients living in north Syria and comparison with Arab countries]

To analyze the characteristics of the main clinical and immunological manifestations of Systemic Lupus Erythematosus [SLE] in 39 patients from Aleppo University Hospital and comparison with 4 other Arab SLE studies. Patients were consecutively seen in our department between 2007 and 2010. The clinical and serologic characteristics of all patients were consecutively collected in a protocol form. There were 32 females and 7 males with female to male ratio 4.5: 1, and a mean age of 25.7 years [range 14-54] years. The most common disease manifestations were hematological abnormalities [79.5%], cardiac manifestations [79.5%], and general symptoms [74.4%]. The most common hematological abnormalities is anemia [71.8%]. The most common cardiac manifestations is valvular lesions [59%] and the most common valvular lesions is mitral valve lesions [38.5%]. The most common general symptoms is fever [69.2%]. The prevalence of mucocutaneous manifestations was [67%]; with most common malar rash [51.1%]. Neuropsychiatric manifestations were found in 33.3%; with most common epilepsy [15.4%]. Lupus nephritis was found in 59% with most common type in renal biopsy according to the WHO classification was class II [33.3%]. Pulmonary manifestations were found in 53.8%; with most common pleural effusion [46.2%]. Thrombotic lesions were found in 30.8%; with most common DVT [15.4%]. Anti-nuclear antibodies were detected in 92.3%, anti-double stranded DNA antibodies in 51.3%, anti-Sm antibodies in 32.4%, anti-Ro antibodies in 45.9%. Anti-cardiolipin IgM and Lupus anticoagulant were detected in 7.7 and 33.3%, respectively. Low C3 was observed in 65.6%. 10.3% of the patients died. The comparison between our findings and 4 other Arab SLE groups revealed a higher incidence of males and lymphopenia, hemolytic anemia, low C3, pleural effusion, pericardial effusion and lupus nephritis, and a lower incidence of discoid rash, arthritis, alopecia, anti-DNA antibodies and anticardiolipin

Risk stratification for cardiac events after acute coronary syndrome using timi risk score

To determine early risk stratification using TIMI Risk Score in patients with acute coronary syndrome [ACS] admitted to hospital in Syrian cohort. This was a prospective cohort study of 1134 patients with non-ST elevation acute coronary syndrome from 1 January 2008 until 1 July 2011. Data included demographic, medical and cardiac history, and components of the TIMI risk score. The main outcome was all causes of mortality, acute myocardial infarction, or urgent revascularization within 14 days as stratified by TIMI risk score. There were 1000 eligible patients; 14-days follow-up was completed on 700 patients [70%]. Patients had mean age of 57.71 +/- 11.13 years and 58.6% of whom were men, 33.7% had non ST elevation myocardial infarction NSTEMI vs 66.3% had unstable angina UA. The incidence of each TIMI risk factor was age greater than 65 years [30%], 3 or more risk factors [44.9%], known coronary stenosis