Risk of livedo with antiphospholipid antibodies in patients with systemic lupus erythematosus: A systematic review and meta-analysis.

BACKGROUND: Livedo is a well-known skin condition in patients with systemic lupus erythematosus (SLE) which correspond to small vessels involvement. The influence of antiphospholipid antibodies (aPL) on the occurrence of livedo is controversial. The aim of our study was to estimate the risk of livedo associated with aPL in patients with SLE. METHODS: We conducted a systematic review and meta-analysis of the literature from 1977 to 2021 to estimate the risk of livedo in SLE patients according to different aPL profiles. Data sources were PubMed, Embase, Cochrane Library, hand search, and reference lists of studies. Studies were selected if they included SLE patients with descriptions of the exposure to aPL and the outcome (livedo). Two independent investigators assessed study eligibility, quality, and extracted patient characteristics from each study as well as exposure (aPL) and outcome (livedo). Risk estimates were pooled using random effects models and sensitivity analyses. For all stages of the meta-analysis, we followed the PRISMA guidelines. PROSPERO registration number: CRD42015027377. RESULTS: Of the 2,355 articles identified, 27 were included with a total of 4,810 SLE patients. The frequency of livedo was 25.5% in aPL-positive patients and 13.3% in aPL-negative patients. The overall Odds Ratio (OR) for livedo in aPL-positive patients compared to aPL-negative patients was 2.91 (95% CI; 2.17-3.90). The risk of livedo was significantly increased for most of aPL subtypes, including lupus anticoagulant (LA) (OR = 4.45 [95% CI; 2.21-8.94]), IgG anticardiolipin (OR = 3.95 [95% CI; 2.34-6.65]), and IgG anti-ß2-glycoprotein 1 (OR = 3.49 [95% CI; 1.68-7.27]). CONCLUSIONS: We demonstrated in this meta-analysis an excess risk of livedo in aPL-positive SLE patients compared to aPL-negative patients. For daily practice, in patients with SLE, livedo associated with aPL could correspond to a peculiar group of patients with small vessel disease. Livedo could be a good candidate for inclusion in future classification criteria for antiphospholipid syndrome.

Blocking the calcium cascade in experimental acute renal failure.

Calcium is believed to be responsible for initiating a deleterious cascade of events that leads to irreversible cell injury during prolonged ischemia. Theoretically, the calcium-dependent cascade of events can be interrupted at three distinct points: a) by reducing calcium inflow into the cytosol using a calcium channel blocker such as verapamil, b) by increasing the mitochondrial capacity to sequester calcium using ethane-1-hydroxy-1:1-diphosphonic acid (EHDP), and c) by inhibiting the activation of the calcium-calmodulin complex using trifluoperazine (TFP). To evaluate the protective role of these agents in prolonged ischemia, 190 unilaterally nephrectomized rats underwent total occlusion of the renal artery for 90 min. One hour before surgery, all the rats received an i.p. injection of either saline or one of the drugs. Of the 190 rats, 130 were used to determine survival and optimal drug doses; the remaining 60 rats were used to determine blood urea nitrogen and serum creatinine at 40 h and 5 days after surgery. Only 33% of the rats in the control group survived for 10 days. However, 87.5% (P less than 0.005), 90% (P less than 0.005), and 60% (P less than 0.01) of the rats pretreated with verapamil, TFP and EHDP respectively survived for 10 days. No differences, however, were seen in renal function tests among the control, TFP or EHDP groups. This suggests that calcium antagonists are successful in protecting the kidney from prolonged ischemic injury despite impaired renal function tests. It may also indicate that these agents delay or prevent the ischemic cells from undergoing irreversible damage.

Amniotic membranes as a biological dressing.

Amniotic membrane dressings were tested in the treatment of 30 patients. Fifteen of them had burns, 5 had chronic varicose ulcers, and 10 had decubitus ulcers or other open infected wounds. No effort was made to separate the chorion from the amnion. Dressings were changed every 48 hours, and treatment was, in some cases, partially ambulatory. Good results were obtained in the treatment of 2nd- and 3rd-degree burns and of other open, infected wounds, both in the preparation of the patients for autografting and in consequent treatment.