ObjectiveTo investigate the clinical features,treatment and pathogenesis of shrinking lung syndrome (SLS). MethodsA patient of systemic lupus erythematosus(SLE)with SLS as initial manifestation was reported.Literatures about SLS were comprehensively reviewed for its clinical characteristics and pathogenesis. ResultsA 27-year-old man was admitted with chief complaint of intermittent dyspnea and chest pain in 2009.Chest X-ray showed small lung volume and elevated diaphragms.Chest CT revealed bilateral pleural thickness and multiple atelectasis,without significant sign of interstitial fibrosis.Lung function showed restrictive pattern.Routine blood test revealed declined white blood cell and platelet count.C3 and C4 were declined.The autoantibody test revealed positive ANA,dsDNA,AHA,and RNP antibody.A diagnosis of SLE with SLS was made.The patient received corticosteroids and immunosuppressive therapy and was followed up for 5 years.His symptoms had relieved,but there was no obvious improvement in chest radiology and lung function.A total of 118 SLS cases were recorded in literature review,among which 100 were females and 18 were males.The average age was 32.98±14.66 years.Common clinical features of SLS included dyspnea,chest pain,orthopnea,breathlessness,and decreased breath sound.Radiology revealed small lung volume,elevated diaphragm,and dysfunction of diaphragm.Lung function showed restrictive pattern.The primary treatment of the disease was corticosteroid and immunosuppressive agents.The use of theophylline,β-agonist and rituximab was also reported. ConclusionWe should be aware of SLS in patients with SLE or other autoimmune diseases when they present with unexplained dyspnea.
Objective This study employs Mendelian randomization analysis to explore the causal relationship between dietary habits and systemic lupus erythematosus (SLE). MethodsWe obtained data from the MRC-IEU database on five dietary habits as instrumental variables for exposure "never eating dairy products" "never eating eggs or foods containing eggs" "never eating sugar or foods/drinks containing sugar" "never eating wheat products" and "I eat all of the above". Summary data related to SLE were retrieved from the MRC-IEU database for the discovery cohort (designated as MSLE) and from a Finnish database for the validation cohort (recorded as FSLE). Two-sample Mendelian randomization analyses were conducted using inverse variance weighting (IVW), MR-Egger, weighted median, Simple Mode, and Weighted Mode methods to investigate the causal relationship between dietary habits and SLE. The MR-Egger intercept test was performed to assess the presence of horizontal pleiotropy, while the leave-one-out method was employed to verify the stability of the results, with Cochran’s Q test and funnel plots used to evaluate heterogeneity. ResultsMendelian randomization analysis indicated that never eating wheat products increases the risk of developing SLE (IVW: P<0.05). In contrast, there was no significant causal relationship between the consumption of dairy products, eggs or foods containing eggs, or the consumption of all of the above with SLE (IVW: P>0.05). Additionally, there was no significant causal relationship between never sugar or foods/drinks containing sugar and MSLE (IVW: P=0.877), although a potential causal association with FSLE was suggested (IVW: P=0.016). The MR-Egger intercept test indicated no evidence of horizontal pleiotropy (P>0.05). ConclusionNever eating wheat products may be an independent risk factor for SLE. However, the causal relationship between never sugar or foods/drinks containing sugar and SLE remains indeterminate.
Objective To summarize results of the correlation of tumor necrosis factor-α (TNF-α) promoter –308A/G polymorphism with systemic lupus erythematosus (SLE) susceptibility in Chinese populations. Methods We collected all the publications about the correlation between TNF-α promoter –308A/G polymorphism and SLE in Chinese populations by searching PubMed, EBSCO, CBM, CNKI and Wanfang Data before the date of March 20, 2010. Meta-analysis was performed for checking the difference between two groups about genotypes such as AA versus GG, GA versus GG, AA versus GG+GA, GA+AA versus GG, and A allele versus G allele. Results A total of 8 studies involving 731 SLE patients and 901 healthy people were included. The meta-analysis of total populations showed that, there was no significant correlation between A allele and increased SLE risk (OR=1.42, 95%CI 0.97 to 2.09, P=0.07); the meta-analyses of populations in different regions showed there was no significant correlation of A allele and increased SLE risk in Chinese Taiwan populations (OR=1.04, 95%CI 0.77 to 1.40, P=0.82). Moreover, there was no significant difference between SLE group and control group in the genotypes of AA versus GG, GA versus GG, AA versus GG+GA, and GA+AA versus GG.Conclusion This meta-analysis dosen’t demonstrate the correlation between TNF-α promoter–308A/G polymorphism and SLE in Chinese populations.
ObjectiveTo evaluate the value of spiral CT in diagnosing ischemic bowel changes in systemic lupus erythematosus (SLE) patients presenting with acute abdominal pain. MethodsThe clinical data and spiral CT imaging files of 23 SLE patients presenting with acute abdominal pain were retrospectively reviewed. Sixteen had contrastenhanced spiral CT scanning of the abdomen, the rest had plain CT study. Observation emphasis was placed on the changes of bowel wall (wall thickness, enhancement pattern, lumen size) and mesentery (mesenteric edema, engorgement of mesenteric vessels and their abnormal arrangement pattern). Other abnormal findings (e.g. fluid accumulation, changes of abdominal solid organs, lymphadenopathy) were also observed. ResultsNineteen patients had intestinal wall thickening (19/23, 82.6%), with the “target sign” in 12 patients (12/16, 75.0%); Bowel lumen dilatation was present in 16 patients (16/23, 69.6%). Mesenteric swelling with increased density of adipose tissue was noticed in 21 patients (21/23, 91.3%); 18 patients had engorgement of mesenteric vessels (18/23, 78.3%), with comb like arrangement in 4 patients (4/16, 25.0%). Other abnormal findings included ascites, hydrothorax, hydropericardium, hepatosplenomegaly and so on. ConclusionThe most common CT findings in SLE patients presenting with acute abdominal pain are the signs associated with ischemic bowel disease. Contrastenhanced spiral CT is a preferable imaging method for both the diagnosis and differential diagnosis of ischemic bowel disease associated with SLE.
ObjectiveTo analyze the correlation between anti-cell membrane DNA (mDNA) antibodies and other autoantibodies and estimate its diagnosing significance for systemic lupus erythematosus (SLE). MethodsFrom January to August 2015, the sera samples from 254 patients with various autoimmune diseases, including 106 SLE, 80 rheumatoid arthritis (RA), 32 mixed connective tissue disease (MCTD), 29 Sjogren's syndrome (SS), 7 polymyositis/dermatomyositis (PM/DM) and 20 healthy controls, were collected. The anti-mDNA antibody, anti-dsDNA antibody, antinuclear antibody (ANA) and anti-keratin antibody (AKA) were detected by indirect immunofluorescent assay; anti-cyclic citrylinated peptide antibody (CCP) antibody was detected by enzyme-linked immuno sorbent assay; rheumatoid factor (RF) was detected by rat scatter turbidimetry assay; and anti-Sm antibody was detected by Western blotting method. ResultsAnti-mDNA antibody was found in 77 of 106 SLE (72.6%), 4 of 80 RA (5.0%), 6 of 32 MCTD (18.7%), 4 of 29 SS (14.7%), 0 of 7 PM/DM (0.0%) and 0 of 20 healthy controls (0.0%), respectively. It's notable higher in SLE than that in the others (P < 0.001). The sensitivity, specificity and diagnosis efficiency of anti-mDNA antibody for SLE were 72.6%, 91.7% and 84.3%, respectively. Anti-mDNA antibody was significantly correlated with ANA, anti-dsDNA antibody and anti-Sm antibody (P < 0.001), while it had no significant correlation with anti-CCP antibody, AKA and RF (P > 0.05). ConclusionAnti-mDNA antibody is closely related with other SLE associated antibodies and with high sensitivity and specificity for SLE diagnosis.
Objective To explore the relevances of serum prolactin level to clinical symptoms and disease activities of systemic lupus erythematosis (SLE). Methods From December 2008 to December 2014, 63 female patients who met the American Rheumatism Society diagnostic criteria of SLE in the First People’s Hospital of Chengdu were collected as the SLE group, and other 20 healthy females were collected as the control group. The serum prolactin level was determined by immunofluorescence, and the disease activity of SLE was assessed by SLE Disease Activity Index (SLEDAI). The relevances of serum prolactin level to clinical symptoms and disease activity of SLE patients were analyzed. Results The mean serum prolactin level was (22.35±14.86) ng/mL in the SLE group and (15.30±8.54) ng/mL in the control group, respectively; the difference was statistically significant (P<0.05). In the 63 SLE patients, 15 (23.8%) had higher serum prolactin level compared with the normal ones. According to the SLEDAI score, the SLE patients were divided into stable group (25 patients), mild activity group (21 patients), moderate activity group (10 patients), and severe activity group (7 patients); and their serum prolactin levels were (20.43±11.23), (22.50±13.54), (27.97±21.20), and (33.91±18.18) ng/mL, respectively; the differences were not statistically significant (P>0.05). There were statistically significant differences (P<0.05) between the SLE patients with hyperprolactinemia and the ones with normal serum prolactin level in a number of clinical symptoms such as serositis, kidney damage,hematological system damage, and hypocomplementemia, but the serum prolactin level was not significantly correlated with the SLEDAI (rs=0.217, P=0.088). Conclusions Less hyperprolactinemia is found in SLE patients. Serum prolactin level is correlated with multiple clinical symptoms and laboratory indexes but not related to disease activity in SLE patients.
Objective To investigate the clinical characteristics of spontaneous pneumothorax secondary to systemic lupus erythematosus (SLE). Methods A case of spontaneous pneumothorax secondary to SLE was reported and related literatures were reviewed. Results A female patient, 26 years old, complaining of repeated fever for 3 months, chest tightness and shortness of breath more than 10 days, was hospitalized in December 2016. After admission, the patient was diagnosed as acute lupus pneumonia and received glucocorticoid, cyclophosphamide and plasma exchange therapy. Sudden right chest pain happened during hospitalization. Bedside chest CT showed right pneumothorax. After closed thoracic drainage, the syndrome of the patient was improved. A total of 14 patients were reviewd but 2 patients were excluded because of incomplete data. The left patients included 9 females and 3 males. The mean age was (28.0±11.9) years. Clinical manifestations of spontaneous pneumothorax secondary to SLE were sudden chest tightness and shortness of breath accompanied by subpleural lung cavity and vesicular changes. The majority of patients could be cured with drainage. Conclusions Pneumothorax secondary to SLE is rare which is associated with the rupture of cavity and cyst in pulmonary secondary to SLE. Majority of patients with pneumothorax could be cured after closed thoracic drainage.
ObjectiveTo analyze the clinical manifestations and laboratory test results of 357 cases of first-diagnosed systemic lupus erythematosus (SLE), and provide a reference for SLE diagnosis. MethodsA total of 357 SLE patients on their first diagnosis were collected from 2008 to 2012 in our hospital, and the clinical manifestations and laboratory findings of these patients were recorded and analyzed. ResultsAll the patients had different clinical manifestations and serious multi-system damages. In these patients, there were 59.1% (211 cases) involved with arthritis, followed by rash and kidney damage. The complement declined in 75.9% of the patients according to the results of immunological tests. In the ENA spectrum inspection, anti-SSA antibody had the highest positive rate (51.3%), followed by anti-u1RNP antibody (44.0%), anti-dsDNA antibody and anti-nucleosome antibody. The first onset of most clinical manifestations was rash (43.4%), followed by arthritis and lower extremity edema; a few patients had headache or numbness as the first symptom. ConclusionSLE patients have diverse clinical manifestations, serious multi-system damages and outstanding heterogeneity, which is inconsistent with foreign reports.
ObjectiveTo study the perioperative treatment of total hip arthroplasty (THA) for avascular necrosis of the femoral head (ANFH) in systemic lupus erythematosus (SLE) patients. MethodsThe clinical data of 27 patients with SLE and ANFH, who underwent 40 THAs between August 2009 and November 2012 were retrospectively analyzed. There were 5 male and 22 female patients, and the average age of the patients at surgery was 40 years ranging from 21 to 66 years. Fourteen cases had unilateral THA and 13 had bilateral THA. The combined disease included 2 cases of hypertension, 3 chronic bronchitis, 1 autoimmune liver disease and hypohepatia, 2 sicca syndrome, and 2 anemia. ResultsAll the patients were stable peri-operatively. No patient had adrenal crisis. Four complications were noted, including one case of fever reaction (maximum temperature:39.3℃), 1 incision fat liquefaction, 1 pulmonary infection, and 1 early dislocation due to improper exercise on the 12th day after the operation. The patients were followed up for 24 to 53 months, and there was no deep infection, prosthetic loosening, peri-prosthetic fracture or deep vein thrombosis after THA. ConclusionAlthough the incidence of postoperative complication is high in patients with SLE and ANFH undergoing THA, meticulous perioperative management can help these patients get through operation safely, including the use of glucocorticoid and antibiotics, treatment of osteoporosis, and prevention and treatment of complications.
Objective To discuss the rules of using traditional Chinese medicine (TCM) to treat systemic lupus erythematosus (SLE) and Sjögren syndrome (SS). Methods The TCM prescriptions for patients with SLE or SS treated at the Department of Rheumatology of Longhua Hospital, Shanghai University of Traditional Chinese Medicine between January 2013 and July 2021 were collected. The prescriptions collected were broken down and analyzed for frequencies of the efficacies, properties, flavors and meridian tropisms of drugs in the prescriptions. The correlation and clustering analysis was performed in VOSviewer software. Results The medication information of 3689 cases of inpatients was included, from which 69167 pieces of data of using TCM prescriptions were extracted. The top 20 high-frequency drugs for treating SLE patients were mainly drugs for promoting blood circulation and removing blood stasis, qi-tonifying drugs, and drugs for heat clearing and detoxicating, which were mostly sweet, bitter or acrid in flavor, cold, warm or neutral in properties, and of the spleen, liver or stomach meridian. The drugs could be seperated into 3 clusters, the blue cluster mainly included qi-tonifying drugs, blood-tonifying drugs, and drugs for promoting blood circulation and removing blood stasis; the green cluster mainly included drugs for heat clearing and drugs for promoting blood circulation and removing blood stasis; and the red cluster mainly consisted of drugs for promoting blood circulation and removing blood stasis, drugs for inducing diuresis and alleviating edema, drugs for dispelling wind-heat, and digestant drugs. The top 20 high-frequency drugs for treating SS patients were mainly drugs for promoting blood circulation and removing blood stasis, qi-tonifying drugs, and drugs for inducing diuresis and alleviating edema, which were mostly sweet, bitter or acrid in flavor, slightly cold, cold or warm in properties, and of the spleen, stomach or liver meridian. The drugs could be seperated into 2 clusters, the green cluster mainly consisted of yin-tonifying drugs, drugs for promoting blood circulation and removing blood stasis, and drugs for heat clearing; the red cluster mainly included qi-tonifying drugs, drugs for promoting blood circulation and removing blood stasis, and drugs for inducing diuresis and alleviating edema. Conclusions The medication for SLE is in line with the treatment principle of “supplementing qi and nourishing yin, detoxicating and removing stasis”; the medication for SS, on the other hand, agrees with the basic rule of “nourishing yin and clearing away heat, promoting body fluid to moisten dryness”. Both are based on the approach of strengthening the body resistance, which is in line with the diagnostic and treatment ideas of rheumatology department and may offer the ideas of TCM syndrome differentiation for clinical use of drugs and thereby guiding the current clinical practice.