Systemic-Lupus-Erythematosus-Related Acute Pancreatitis: A Cohort from South China

Acute pancreatitis (AP) is a rare but life-threatening complication of SLE. The current study evaluated the clinical characteristics and risk factors for the mortality of patients with SLE-related AP in a cohort of South China. Methods. Inpatient medical records of SLE-related AP were retrospectively reviewed. Results. 27 out of 4053 SLE patients were diagnosed as SLE-related AP, with an overall prevalence of 0.67%, annual incidence of 0.56‰ and mortality of 37.04%. SLE patients with AP presented with higher SLEDAI score (21.70 ± 10.32 versus 16.17 ± 7.51, P = 0.03), more organ systems involvement (5.70 ± 1.56 versus 3.96 ± 1.15, P = 0.001), and higher mortality (37.04% versus 0, P = 0.001), compared to patients without AP. Severe AP (SAP) patients had a significant higher mortality rate compared to mild AP (MAP) (75% versus 21.05%, P = 0.014). 16 SLE-related AP patients received intensive GC treatment, 75% of them exhibited favorable prognosis. Conclusion. SLE-related AP is rare but concomitant with high mortality in South Chinese people, especially in those SAP patients. Activity of SLE, multiple-organ systems involvement may attribute to the severity and mortality of AP. Appropriate glucocorticosteroid (GC) treatment leads to better prognosis in majority of SLE patients with AP

Fetal outcomes and associated factors of adverse outcomes of pregnancy in southern Chinese women with systemic lupus erythematosus.

This study aims to investigate the fetal outcomes and associated factors of adverse pregnancy outcomes (APOs) in pregnant women with systemic lupus erythematosus (SLE). Clinical data from 251 SLE patients with 263 pregnancies from 2001 to 2015 were analyzed retrospectively. APOs occurred in 70.0% of pregnancies, in which pregnancy loss occurred in 28.5%; preterm delivery occurred in 21.3%; intrauterine growth retardation occurred in 12.2%; and fetal distress occurred in 8.0%. Over time, the rate of APOs decreased from 82.8% during 2001~2005 to 59.6% during 2011~2015. In multivariate analysis, predictors of APOs included positive antiphospholipid antibodies (OR 8.4, 95% CI 1.7~40.8, P = 0.008), lower complement (OR 3.6, 95% CI 1.3~9.9, P = 0.01), hypoalbuminemia (OR 3.2, 95% CI 1.2~8.3, P = 0.02), and hypertension (OR 14.6, 95% CI 1.5~141.6, P = 0.02). The use of antimalarial medications was associated with lower risk for APOs (OR 0.3, 95% CI 0.1~0.7, P = 0.01). In total, 109 patients underwent fetal umbilical artery Doppler in the third trimester. The The adjusted systole/diastole (S/D) ratio, pulsatility index (PI) and resistance index (RI) of SLE patients with APOs were higher than that of patients without APOs (2.9±0.9 vs. 2.4±0.5, P = 0.001). Lupus pregnancy was still at high risk of APOs in terms of pregnancy loss and preterm delivery. Umbilical artery Doppler was a good monitor method for APOs in the third trimester

Invasive mycoses in patients with connective tissue disease from Southern China: clinical features and associated factors

Abstract Background A retrospective study was performed to investigate the clinical features and associated factors of invasive mycoses (IM) in patients with connective tissue disease (CTD) from Southern China. Methods Demographic and clinical data were recorded. Associated factors were analyzed by logistic regression analysis. Results A total of 6911 patients with CTD were included. IM was diagnosed in 32 patients (incidence, 0.5%). IM was predominant in patients with ANCA-associated vasculitis (AAV) (incidence, 1.5%, 7/480). Lung was commonly involved (30/32, 93.8%). Aspergillus spp. (81.3%) were the leading strain. The positive rate of fungi detection in sputum culture was 69.0%. Serum galactomannan (GM) test was positive in bronchoalveolar lavage fluid (BALF) from seven (7/10, 70.0%) patients. Ten patients died (31.3%), including three with AAV (42.9%) and seven with SLE (36.8%). Penicillium marneffei was the most fatal (mortality, 100%). Non-survivors had higher prevalence of leukopenia (30.0% vs 4.5%, P = 0.04), lymphopenia (100.0% vs 59.1%, P = 0.02), elevated serum creatinine (70.0% vs 27.3%, P = 0.02), and co-infection (70.0% vs 18.2%, P = 0.004) than survivors. Multivariate logistic regression analysis showed that lymphopenia [odds ratio (OR) = 3.28, 95% confidence interval (CI) 1.29–8.38, P = 0.01] and median-to-high dose of glucocorticoid (GC) [OR = 3.40, 95% CI 1.04–11.13, P = 0.04] were associated with IM in patients with CTD. Conclusions IM tended to develop in patients with AAV, resulting in high mortality. Sputum culture and GM test in BALF were effective methods to distinguish IM. Vigilance against lymphopenia, impaired kidney function, and co-infection improved the prognosis of IM

Adipose derived mesenchymal stem cells transplantation via portal vein improves microcirculation and ameliorates liver fibrosis induced by CCl4 in rats

<p>Abstract</p> <p>Introduction</p> <p>Adipose derived mesenchymal stem cells (ADMSCs), carrying the similar characteristics to bone marrow mesenchymal stem cells, only much more abundant and easier to obtain, may be a promising treatment for liver fibrosis. We aim to investigate the therapeutic potential of ADMSCs transplantation in liver fibrosis caused by carbon tetrachloride (CCl₄) in rats as well as its underlying mechanism, and to further explore the appropriate infusion pathway.</p> <p>Methods</p> <p>ADMSCs were isolated, cultured and identified. Placebo and ADMSCs were transplanted via portal vein and tail vein respectively into carbon tetrachloride (CCl₄)-induced liver fibrosis rats. Computed tomography (CT) perfusion scan and microvessel counts were performed to measure the alteration of liver microcirculation after therapy. Liver function tests and histological findings were estimated.</p> <p>Results</p> <p>CT perfusion scan shown significant decrease of hepatic arterial perfusion index, significant increased portal vein perfusion, total liver perfusion in rats receiving ADMSCs from portal vein, and Factor VIII (FVIII) immunohistochemical staining shown significant decrease of microvessels in rats receiving ADMSCs from portal vein, indicating microcirculation improvement in portal vein group. Vascular endothelial growth Factor (VEGF) was significantly up-regulated in fibrosis models, and decreased after ADMSCs intraportal transplantation. A significant improvement of liver functional test and histological findings in portal vein group were observed. No significance was found in rats receiving ADMSCs from tail vein.</p> <p>Conclusions</p> <p>ADMSCs have a therapeutic effect against CCl₄-mediated liver fibrosis. ADMSCs may benefit the fibrotic liver through alteration of microcirculation, evidenced by CT perfusion scan and down-regulation of VEGF. Intraportal transplantation is a better pathway than tail vein transplantation.</p

The Effects of Bromocriptine on Preventing Postpartum Flare in Systemic Lupus Erythematosus Patients from South China

Objective. Prolactin plays an important role on the disease flare of postpartum SLE patients. 76 pregnant SLE patients were enrolled in this study to evaluate the efficacy of bromocriptine (an inhibitor of prolactin secretion) on preventing the postpartum disease relapse. Methods. Patients were randomly divided into the treatment group (bromocriptine, 2.5 mg oral, twice a day for 14 days after delivery) and the control group. All the patients were followed up for 12 months. Clinical features were recorded every 4 weeks. Serum prolactin and estradiol levels were measured at the second week and the second month after delivery. The endpoint of the study was disease relapse and defined when SLEDAI score increased by ≥3 points from the antenatal baseline. Results. (1) Serum levels of prolactin and estradiol decreased significantly in bromocriptine treatment group at the second week (P<0.001) and second month (P<0.05) after delivery compared to control group. (2) The relapse rate of the treatment group was lower than the control group (χ2=4.68, P=0.0305). Conclusions. Two weeks of oral bromocriptine treatment in postpartum SLE patients may relieve the disease from hyperprolactinemia and hyperestrogenemia and may be beneficial in preventing the patients from disease relapse