Clinico-Laboratory Features and Associated Factors of Lupus Mesenteric Vasculitis.

INTRODUCTION: Lupus mesenteric vasculitis (LMV) is a rare but potentially life-threatening clinical entity in systemic lupus erythematosus (SLE) patients. OBJECTIVE: The present study was initiated to explore the clinical features and associated factors of LMV in SLE patients. METHODS: We conducted a retrospective study on 50 cases of SLE patients with lupus mesenteric vasculitis (LMV) from January 2010 to December 2019 and 89 cases of non-LMV-SLE patients with similar demographic and comorbidities were included as control. All the data regarding clinical features, laboratory findings, and treatment were reviewed independently by two experts in the field. Both univariate and multivariate logistic regression analyses were employed to identify the associated factors of LMV. RESULTS: The incidence of LMV was 2.9% among hospitalized SLE patients in the current study. The most frequent symptom and physical sign of LMV were respectively abdominal pain (48, 96%) and abdominal tenderness (45, 90%). Through univariate and subsequent multivariate analysis, oral ulcer (OR, 4.25; P = 0.024), urinary tract involvement (OR, 5.23; P = 0.021), and elevated D-dimer (OR, 1.121; P = 0.008) were demonstrated to be positively associated with LMV, while percentage of lymphocytes (OR, 0.928; P = 0.004) and complement 3 (OR, 0.048; P = 0.008) were negatively correlated with LMV. CONCLUSIONS: Oral ulcer, urinary tract involvement, reduced percentage of lymphocytes and complement 3, elevated D-dimer could be associated factors for LMV in SLE patients.

Review: Acute superior mesenteric artery embolism: A vascular emergency cannot be ignored by physicians.

BACKGROUND: Acute mesenteric ischemia (AMI) is a life-threatening medical condition that occurs when a sudden decreased perfusion to the intestines which leads to bowel infarction, and acute superior mesenteric artery embolism (ASMAE) is the main cause of AMI. Unfortunately, with the improvement of diagnosis and treatment technology, the mortality remains high due to less frequent clinical suspicion resulted from the unclear clinical manifestation and non-specific laboratory findings. METHODS: Relevant studies published were identified by searching the PubMed, Embase and Cochrane Library databases. This review presented the literatures to introduce the research progress of ASMAE in recent years. RESULTS: Patients with the history of atrial fibrillation, heart valve disease and atherosclerosis should be considered as ASMAE. Laboratory findings are insensitive and unspecific, however, angiography and Computed tomography angiography (CTA) can provide a clear diagnosis sensitively and specifically. Endovascular approaches have been increasingly reported in multiple case series. The key to successful treatment of AMI involves early clinical recognition and early intervention to move the embolus, which can reduce the rate of misdiagnosis and save the precious time and lives of patients. CONCLUSIONS: Loss of time eventually leads to progression of ischemia to transmural bowel necrosis with peritonitis and septicemia, which may further worsen patients' outcomes. It is important for physicians to make a timely and accurate diagnosis, which can save precious time and reduce the mortality.