Lack of CTGF*-945C/G Dimorphism in Thai Patients with Systemic Sclerosis

An association between connective tissue growth factor (CTGF) gene dimorphism at –945 (CTGF*-945C/G) and systemic sclerosis (SSc) has been reported with inconclusive results. We performed this study to determine whether such an association exists among Thai patients with SSc. DNA samples were taken from 50 Thai SSc patients (diffuse SSc in 39 and limited SSc in 11) and 99 healthy controls for determination of CTGF*-945C/G dimorphism by polymerase chain reaction (PCR) using specific oligonucleotide primers. The associations between the genotype frequencies, clinical manifestations and auto-antibodies were determined as well. When compared with the controls, SSc patients had no significantly higher frequencies of the GG genotype (44.0% vs 39.4%, p = 0.60), G allele (63.0% vs 65.2%, p = 0.80) or G phenotype (82.0% vs 90.9%, p = 1.0). There was no association between the presence of the GG genotype and clinical manifestations (pulmonary fibrosis, sclerodactyly, digital pitting scars, telangiectasia and pulmonary arterial hypertension), or the presence of auto-antibodies (anti-Scl-70, anti-SSA/Ro, and anti-RNP). In conclusion, we found no association between CTGF*-945C/G dimorphism and Thai SSc patients

3697/N

Abstract. Infection, particularly pneumonia, is a major cause of morbidity and mortality in patients with systemic lupus erythematosus (SLE). This study was performed to assess the prevalence, causative organisms, and outcomes of community-acquired pneumonia (CAP) in Thai SLE patients, and determine the predicting factors for death. A retrospective chart review of adult SLE patients, age >16 years, seen at the Division of Rheumatology, Chiang Mai University over an 18 year period was carried out. Cases diagnosed with CAP were selected for this study. Of 542 SLE patients, a total of 56 episodes of CAP occurred in 52 patients. Their mean age ± SD and duration of SLE were 37.98 ± 11.48 years and 34.99 ± 54.53 months, respectively. Thirty-three CAP cases (58.9%) occurred within the first year of diagnosis with SLE. The causative organisms identifiable in 40 patients (71.5%) were Mycobacterium tuberculosis in 12, Nocardia spp in 6, Aspergillus spp in 5, Staphylococcus aureus in 3, Pneumocystis carinii, Haemophilus influenzae, Escherichia coli, and Pseudomonas aeruginosa in 2 each, and Acinetobactor baumanii, Burkholderia pseudomallei, and Strongyloides stercoralis in 1 each. The remaining 3 patients had mixed bacterial infection. The overall mortality rate was 26.8%. Use of high dose prednisolone (≥15 mg/day), and ventilator support were significantly associated with death