Search Our Scientific Publications & Authors

Mult Scler Relat Disord 2020 Jul 5;44:102379. Epub 2020 Jul 5.

Department of Pediatrics, National Taiwan University Hospital, Taipei, Taiwan; Graduate Institute of Brain and Mind Sciences, National Taiwan University, Taipei, Taiwan.

Background: The long-term outcome of optic neuritis (ON) is heterogeneous, and it appears to vary among different populations. Identification of determinants of natural history of ON would be helpful in therapeutic planning and prognostication, while relevant investigations in Asian patients were less reported. This study aims to clarify whether comorbidities and treatment in ON patients are associated with differential risks of subsequent development of multiple sclerosis (MS) or neuromyelitis optica (NMO) in Taiwan. Read More

Immunol Med 2020 Jul 10:1-7. Epub 2020 Jul 10.

Department of Rheumatology and Infectious Diseases, Kitasato University School of Medicine, Sagamihara, Kanagawa, Japan.

Systemic lupus erythematosus (SLE) involves excessive autoimmune reactions, with pathogenesis characterized by autoantibody production. Although the specific mechanism underlying the development of neuropsychiatric syndromes in SLE (NPSLE) is still unclear, recent studies indicate the involvement of autoimmune pathophysiology. We previously identified the presence of anti--methyl-d-aspartate receptor subunit GluN2 antibody (anti-GluN2) as a functional autoantibody which is able to impair neurons and is essential for the diagnosis of diffuse psychiatric/neuropsychological syndromes in NPSLE (dNPSLE). Read More

J Clin Rheumatol 2020 Jul 7. Epub 2020 Jul 7.

School of Medicine Federal University of Juiz de Fora Juiz de Fora Minas Gerais, Brazil. Department of Morphology Federal University of Juiz de Fora José Lourenço Kelmer Juiz de Fora Minas Gerais, Brazil. Department of Pathology Fluminense Federal University Niterói Rio de Janeiro, Brazil. Division of Rheumatology Hospital Santa Casa de Misericórdia de Juiz de Fora (SCMJF); Department of Pharmacology Federal University of Juiz de Fora José Lourenço Kelmer Juiz de Fora Minas Gerais, Brazil

J Clin Rheumatol 2020 Jul 6. Epub 2020 Jul 6.

Rheumatology, University of Nebraska Medical Center College of Medicine, Omaha, NE.

Future Cardiol 2020 Jul 10. Epub 2020 Jul 10.

Department of Medicine, Division of Cardiology, University of California, Irvine School of Medicine, 333 City Boulevard West, Suite 400, Orange, CA 92868, USA.

Aortic valve (AV) thrombus, a rare complication of antiphospholipid syndrome (APLS), is important to distinguish from Libman-Sacks endocarditis because of its responsiveness to anticoagulation. This may be attributed to immunopathologic differences underpinning their development. We present the case of a 45-year-old woman with high-risk primary APLS who developed an AV mass and was taken for valvular repair surgery but found to have pure thrombus and normal valve leaflets. Read More

Mycopathologia 2020 Jul 9. Epub 2020 Jul 9.

Department of Dermatology, The Eastern Division of The First Affiliated Hospital, Sun Yat-sen University, 183 Huangpu Rd. E., Guangzhou, 510700, People's Republic of China.

Talaromyces marneffei is an important opportunistic pathogen mainly afflicting the HIV-infected patients, in rare instance, it could cause infection in non-HIV-infected individuals. We report a 51-year-old Chinese woman who, with histories of SLE for 14 years and disseminated talaromycosis for 4 years, occurred partial intestinal obstruction that was demonstrated to be caused by Talaromyces marneffei infection. The randomly amplified polymorphic DNA results of paraffin-embedded tissues from both the present episode and the previous infection suggested that the present infection was a recurrent. Read More

Lupus 2020 Jul 9:961203320940029. Epub 2020 Jul 9.

Department of Pediatric Rheumatology, Istanbul University-Cerrahpasa, Cerrahpasa Medical School, Istanbul, Turkey.

Objectives: Clinical and laboratory investigations have revealed that Epstein-Barr virus (EBV) is involved in altered immunological response of systemic lupus erythematosus (SLE). Higher seroprevalence rates of anti-EBV antibodies and increased viral load are demonstrated in adult SLE patients. The prevalence of BK polyomavirus (BKV) reactivation is also suggested to be higher in SLE. Read More

Int Immunopharmacol 2020 Jul 1;86:106749. Epub 2020 Jul 1.

Department of Pharmacy, Wuxi People's Hospital Attached to Nanjing Medical University, Wuxi 214023, Jiangsu, China. Electronic address:

In December 2019, a novel coronavirus pneumonia (COVID-19) caused by severe acute respiratory syndrome coronavirus 2 (SARS-CoV-2) suddenly broke out in China and rapidly spread all over the world. Recently, a cell surface protein, known as angiotensin-converting enzyme II (ACE2), has been identified to be involved in receptor-mediated endocytosis for SARS-CoV-2 entry to the cells. Many studies have reported the clinical characteristics of COVID-19: sudden deterioration of disease around 1-2 weeks after onset; much lower level of lymphocytes, especially natural killer (NK) cells in peripheral blood; extremely high pro-inflammatory cytokines and C reactive protein (CRP). Read More

Pharmacol Res 2020 Jul 6:105054. Epub 2020 Jul 6.

The Second Affiliated Hospital and School of Pharmacy, Dalian Medical University, Dalian, Liaoning, China. Electronic address:

Systemic lupus erythematosus (SLE) and rheumatoid arthritis (RA), which are characterized by self-perpetuating inflammation and tissue/organ damage, resulting from the failure of lymphocyte auto-tolerance, cause morbidity and mortality worldwide. The current drugs or therapies including conventional non-steroidal anti-inflammatory drugs (NSAIDs) and disease-modifying anti-rheumatic drugs (DMARDs), as well as several biologic therapies such as B cell-targeted, T cell-targeted, cytokines-targeted and cytokines receptors-targeted therapy, cannot completely cure SLE and RA, and are always accompanied by unexpected side effects. Therefore, more studies have explored new methods for therapy and found that the herbal medicine as well as its natural products (NPs) exhibited promising therapeutic value through exerting effects of immunomodulation, anti-inflammation, anti-oxidation, and anti-apoptosis, etc. Read More

J Med Virol 2020 Jul 9. Epub 2020 Jul 9.

Unidade de Investigação Cardiovascular (UniC), Faculdade de Medicina da Universidade do Porto and Hospital CUF, Porto, Portugal.

Background: Hydroxychloroquine sulphate (HCQ) is being scrutinized for repositioning in the treatment and prevention of SARS-Cov-2 infection. This antimalarial drug is also chronically used to treat patients with autoimmune diseases.

Methods: By analysing the Portuguese anonymized data on private and public based medical prescriptions we have identified all cases chronically receiving HCQ for the management of diseases such as systemic lupus erythematosus, rheumatoid arthritis, and other autoimmune diseases. Read More

JAMA Ophthalmol 2020 Jul 9;138(7):e194120. Epub 2020 Jul 9.

Department of Ophthalmology, Pontificia Universidad Católica de Chile, Santiago, Chile.

Lung India 2020 Jul-Aug;37(4):346-348

Department of Pulmonology, Critical Care and Sleep Medicine, Fortis Memorial Research Institute, Gurugram, Haryana, India.

Clin Rheumatol 2020 Jul 9. Epub 2020 Jul 9.

Division of Rheumatology, University of Pennsylvania, Philadelphia, PA, USA.

Avascular necrosis (AVN) is a pathologic process involving death of bony tissue resulting from loss of blood supply from various causes. Various traumatic and nontraumatic causes of AVN are known, including systemic autoimmune diseases. AVN has been well described in patients with autoimmune diseases such as systemic lupus erythematosus, but in systemic sclerosis (SSc) patients, there have been limited case reports and case series. Read More

Cureus 2020 Jun 3;12(6):e8422. Epub 2020 Jun 3.

Internal Medicine, California Institute of Behavioral Neurosciences and Psychology, Fairfield, USA.

Systemic lupus erythematosus (SLE) is a systemic autoimmune disease and myasthenia gravis (MG) is an organ-specific autoimmune disease, both may exhibit positive anti-nuclear antibodies and a female preponderance. They may have similar features and can coexist in a patient or precede one another. This review article is based on electronic searches using PubMed as the primary database. Read More

Intern Med 2020 Jul 7. Epub 2020 Jul 7.

Department of Rheumatology, Hiroshima City Hiroshima Citizens Hospital, Japan.

Objective We investigated the continuation rate, safety and efficacy of treatment with hydroxychloroquine (HCQ) in a retrospective cohort of systemic lupus erythematosus (SLE) in a Japanese municipal hospital. Methods All of the patients with SLE who started treatment with HCQ were included in this study. A retrospective chart review was performed. Read More

Intern Med 2020 Jul 7. Epub 2020 Jul 7.

Department of General Internal Medicine, Tenri Hospital, Japan.

Lupus aortitis is a rare and potentially life-threatening disorder. Previous studies have reported the utility of high-dose systemic glucocorticoids or surgery as the treatment, although there have been no related controlled trials. We herein report a 49-year-old woman with a 35-year history of systemic lupus erythematosus (SLE) who was diagnosed with aortitis. Read More

Int Heart J 2020 Jul 8. Epub 2020 Jul 8.

Department of Cardiology and Nephrology, Mie University Graduate School of Medicine.

Nutcracker syndrome (NCS), which is defined as compression of the left renal vein between the aorta and the superior mesenteric artery, is usually benign and self-limiting. Long-term renal venous retention increases the risk of renal vein thrombosis. However, NCS rarely develops into isolated thrombosis of the left renal vein; the reason for this process remains unknown. Read More

Sci Transl Med 2020 Jul;12(551)

Department of Pathology, Immunology, and Laboratory Medicine, University of Florida, Gainesville, FL 32610, USA.

The autoimmune disease systemic lupus erythematosus (SLE) is characterized by the production of pathogenic autoantibodies. It has been postulated that gut microbial dysbiosis may be one of the mechanisms involved in SLE pathogenesis. Here, we demonstrate that the dysbiotic gut microbiota of triple congenic (TC) lupus-prone mice (B6. Read More

BMJ Case Rep 2020 Jul 7;13(7). Epub 2020 Jul 7.

Division of Pulmonary Diseases, Geneva University Hospitals, Geneva, Switzerland.

Systemic lupus erythematosus is a multisystem autoimmune disease with wide-ranging pleuropulmonary manifestations. Acute lupus pneumonitis is one of its uncommon complications. We report a 36-year-old woman with acute lupus pneumonitis as the initial presentation of systemic lupus erythematosus. Read More

Lupus 2020 Jul 8:961203320940389. Epub 2020 Jul 8.

Section of Rheumatology, Western Connecticut Health Network, Danbury, USA.

The coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19) pandemic has created new challenges that necessitate prompt responses in unexpected clinical situations. Multiple extrapulmonary manifestations and complications of COVID-19 have already been described, but only scattered data are present on immunologic manifestations. We present a case of severe refractory thrombocytopenia in a 51-year-old woman with a history of long-standing systemic lupus erythematosus and antiphospholipid syndrome who presented with hemoptysis in the setting of COVID-19 infection. Read More

Lupus 2020 Jul 8:961203320938868. Epub 2020 Jul 8.

Division of Pediatric Rheumatology, University of Utah, Salt Lake City, USA.

Background: Individuals with childhood-onset systemic lupus erythematosus (cSLE) must transfer from pediatric to adult care. The goal of this study was to examine disease activity and health-care utilization among young adults with cSLE who are undergoing or have recently completed the transfer to adult care.

Methods: The Pediatric Lupus Outcomes Study (PLOS) is a prospective longitudinal cohort study of young adults aged 18-30 diagnosed with cSLE. Read More

FP Essent 2020 07;494:18-24

St. Luke's Family Medicine Residency, 2830 Easton Ave, Bethlehem, PA 18017.

Systemic lupus erythematosus (SLE) is a complex autoimmune disease that can affect the musculoskeletal, integumentary, renal, neuropsychiatric, hematologic, cardiac, pulmonary, gastrointestinal, and reticuloendothelial systems. Most patients with suspected SLE are comanaged with a rheumatology subspecialist to confirm the diagnosis and assist in ongoing treatment. Management should focus on improving long-term outcomes, achieving remission, preventing tissue damage, and improving quality of life. Read More

Diagn Cytopathol 2020 Aug 29;48(8):773-777. Epub 2020 Apr 29.

Department of Laboratory Oncology, Dr. BRAIRCH, All India Institute of Medical Sciences, New Delhi, India.

The diagnosis of systemic lupus erythematosus (SLE) has undergone radical change after the development of serological techniques. The in vitro demonstration of lupus erythematosus (LE) cell has less significance for the diagnosis of SLE in the present scenario. Although over the years, the spontaneous in vivo occurrence of LE cell in numerous body fluids as an initial presentation of SLE has been documented. Read More

Clin Rehabil 2020 Jul 8:269215520941059. Epub 2020 Jul 8.

Department of physical therapy for Surgery, Faculty of Physical Therapy, Cairo University, Giza, Egypt.

Objective: To determine the efficacy of high-intensity laser therapy (HILT) on arthropathy of the hands in patients with systemic lupus erythematosus.

Design: A double-blinded randomized, controlled study.

Setting: Outpatient setting. Read More

Clin Rheumatol 2020 Jul 7. Epub 2020 Jul 7.

Department of Rheumatic and Immunologic Diseases, Cleveland Clinic Foundation, Cleveland, OH, USA.

Objective: This study aimed to investigate the association between asthma and risk of systemic lupus erythematosus (SLE) using systematic review and meta-analysis technique.

Methods: Potentially eligible studies were identified from Medline and EMBASE databases from inception to March 2020 using search strategy that comprised of terms for "asthma" and "systemic lupus erythematosus." Qualified cohort study must consist of one cohort of patients with asthma and another cohort of individuals without asthma. Read More

Clin Rheumatol 2020 Jul 7. Epub 2020 Jul 7.

Pediatric Nephrology Unit, 1st Dept. of Pediatrics, Hippokration General Hospital, Aristotle University, Thessaloniki, Greece.

Objectives: This study on juvenile SLE patients aimed to evaluate retrospectively the impact of a tertiary center's management policy of the disease severity on its long-term progression and cumulative damage development as well as provision of quality-driven medical care (QmC).

Methods: Disease activity was assessed by the Physician Global Assessment and SLEDAI-2K, flares by SELENA/SLEDAI, and damage by the pediatric SLICC/DI at diagnosis, 6 months post-diagnosis, and annually thereafter. At the same time, QmC was evaluated by relevant indices and quality of life was captured by the Greek version of the General Health Questionnaire only at the last visit. Read More

Arch Rheumatol 2020 Mar 6;35(1):137-141. Epub 2019 Nov 6.

Department of Rheumatology, Kalinga Institute of Medical Sciences, Bhubaneswar, India.

Mixed connective tissue disease (MCTD) is an autoimmune condition characterized by mixed clinical features of connective tissue diseases like systemic lupus erythematosus, polymyositis or systemic sclerosis with high titers of anti-U1 small nuclear ribonucleoprotein. Interstitial lung disease is a frequent manifestation of MCTD. Retroperitoneal fibrosis (RPF) is a rare fibro-inflammatory process involving the retroperitoneum. Read More

Arch Rheumatol 2020 Mar 8;35(1):132-136. Epub 2020 Jan 8.

Department of Pediatric Rheumatology, University of Health Science, Kanuni Sultan Süleyman Training and Research Hospital, Istanbul, Turkey.

Sacroiliitis has been scarcely reported in patients with systemic lupus erythematosus (SLE). In this article, we presented a pediatric case with coexis- tence of juvenile SLE and juvenile spondyloarthropathy (SpA) and discussed the clinical and laboratory findings by the literature review. A 16-year- old female patient with a diagnosis of SLE was referred to our outpatient clinic with inflammatory low-back pain for two months. Read More

Arch Rheumatol 2020 Mar 7;35(1):7-12. Epub 2020 Feb 7.

Department of Pediatrics, Division of Nutrition and Metabolism, Istanbul University Cerrahpasa-Cerrahpasa Medical Faculty, Istanbul, Turkey.

Objectives: This study aims to determine the prevalence of Fabry disease (FD) among patients with juvenile systemic lupus erythematosus (SLE).

Patients And Methods: This cross-sectional study included 76 juvenile SLE patients (12 males; 64 females; mean age 16±3.3 years; range, 8 to 23. Read More

Case Rep Pulmonol 2020 20;2020:6396915. Epub 2020 Jun 20.

Department of Pulmonary Medicine, The University of Texas MD Anderson Cancer Center, Houston, Texas, USA.

Thymomas are slow-growing neoplasia arising from the epithelial cells of the thymus that usually present with respiratory symptoms, superior vena cava syndrome, or parathymic syndromes. Approximately 30% of thymomas develop myasthenia gravis. An additional 5% of patients with thymomas have other systemic syndromes, including rheumatoid arthritis, thyroiditis, red cell aplasia, systemic lupus erythematosus, and Cushing syndrome. Read More

J Immunother Cancer 2020 Jul;8(2)

Institute of Infectious Diseases, Beijing Ditan Hospital, Capital Medical University, Beijing, China

Background: Clinical trials showed limited benefit of anti-PD-1 (programmed cell death 1) monotherapy in pancreatic adenocarcinoma patients and immune-related adverse events caused by immune checkpoint inhibitors were rarely reported in pancreatic adenocarcinoma. Here, we report the first case of durable benefit along with systemic lupus erythematosus following immunotherapy in mismatch repair-proficient pancreatic cancer.

Case Presentation: We describe a 57-year-old woman with resected stage ⅢB pancreatic cancer who underwent several lines of conventional chemotherapy after multiple lymph node metastases. Read More

BMC Nephrol 2020 Jul 7;21(1):258. Epub 2020 Jul 7.

Division of Rheumatology, Department of Internal Medicine, Yonsei University College of Medicine, 50-1 Yonsei-ro, Seodaemun-gu, Seoul, 03722, Republic of Korea.

Background: Lupus nephritis is associated with increased risk of end-stage renal disease (ESRD) and all-cause mortality. We evaluated the clinical features and outcomes of patients with early and delayed lupus nephritis.

Methods: The medical records of 171 patients who met the 1997 revised classification criteria for systemic lupus erythematosus (SLE) with pathologic confirmation of lupus nephritis were reviewed. Read More

Lupus 2020 Jul 7:961203320939164. Epub 2020 Jul 7.

Division of Nephrology, Department of Paediatrics, Faculty of Medicine, Chulalongkorn University, Bangkok, Thailand.

Background: The administration of induction immunosuppressive therapy to children with newly diagnosed systemic lupus erythematosus (SLE) and concurrent infections can lead to unfavourable outcomes. This study was conducted to describe characteristics of infections occurring before the initiation of immunosuppressants in hospitalized children with newly diagnosed SLE in underresourced areas.

Methods: Medical records of paediatric patients with the diagnosis of SLE, who were admitted to a university-based hospital from 2002 to 2018, were reviewed. Read More

Lupus 2020 Jul 7:961203320939156. Epub 2020 Jul 7.

Department of Bioscience and Bioinformatics, Khallikote University, Transit Campus: GMax Building, Konisi, Berhampur, Odisha, India.

Objectives: Mannose-binding lectin (MBL), an essential innate immune molecule, enhances the opsonization process and activates the complement system. Genetic variations at the promoter and coding region of the MBL-2 gene have been associated with susceptibility to systemic lupus erythematosus (SLE); however, reports remained inconsistent. The present study performs a meta-analysis of published peer-reviewed articles to draw a definitive conclusion. Read More

Lupus 2020 Jul 7:961203320938453. Epub 2020 Jul 7.

Department of Rheumatology, Endocrinology and Nephrology, Faculty of Medicine and Graduate School of Medicine, Hokkaido University, Sapporo, Japan.

Objective: This study aimed to explore the risk factors for 'severe' neuropsychiatric (NP) flare in patients with systemic lupus erythematosus (SLE).

Methods: This retrospective study comprised newly diagnosed 184 adult SLE patients who visited Hokkaido University Hospital between 2006 and 2017. In this study, severe NP flare was defined as the occurrence of at least one newly developed British Isles Lupus Assessment Group A score in the neurological domain. Read More

Lupus 2020 Jul 7:961203320938447. Epub 2020 Jul 7.

The First Affiliated Hospital of Guangdong Pharmaceutical University, Guangzhou, PR China.

Objective: The objective of this study was to explore the association between periodontitis and systemic lupus erythematosus (SLE).

Methods: To identify eligible studies, the PubMed, EMBASE and Web of Science databases were searched from inception to 19 September 2019. Associations of periodontitis, and other periodontal parameters, with SLE were assessed. Read More

Immunol Cell Biol 2020 Jul 7. Epub 2020 Jul 7.

Institute of Clinical Pharmacology, Anhui Medical University, Key Laboratory of Anti-inflammatory and Immunopharmacology, Ministry of Education, Engineering Technology Research Center of Anti-inflammatory and Immunodrugs in Anhui Province, Anhui Province, Hefei, PR China.

The CC chemokine receptor 6 (CCR6) and its sole chemokine ligand, CCL20, are an intriguing pair that have been implicated in a growing number of inflammatory, autoimmune and malignant disease processes. Recent observations have also highlighted this chemokine axis in the regulation of humoral immune responses. Through this review article, we explore the emerging links of CCR6/CCL20 in an archetypal autoimmune disease of humoral dysregulation: systemic lupus erythematosus (SLE). Read More

Dtsch Med Wochenschr 2020 Jul 7. Epub 2020 Jul 7.

Poliklinik für Rheumatologie, Heinrich-Heine-Universität Düsseldorf.

The publication of the new ACR/EULAR classification criteria for systemic lupus erythematosus (SLE) and the revision of the EULAR recommendations for the management of SLE last year include many important novelties that will change the classification and care of lupus patients. This refers to both general basic treatment principles and specific therapy recommendations. For example, SLE can only be classified as such if antinuclear antibodies (ANA) are present, independently of titer height and fluorescence pattern. Read More

Curr Pharm Des 2020 Jul 7. Epub 2020 Jul 7.

Institute of Immunology, Faculty of Medicine, Central University of Venezuela, 50109, Los Chaguaramos 1050-A, Caracas. Venezuela.

Chloroquine (CQ) and hydroxychloroquine (HCQ) are derivatives of the heterocyclic aromatic compound quinoline. These economical compounds were used as antimalarial agents for many years. Currently, they are used as monotherapy or in conjunction with other therapies for the treatment of autoimmune diseases such as systemic lupus erythematosus (SLE), rheumatoid arthritis (RA), Sjögren's syndrome (SS) and antiphospholipid antibody syndrome (APS). Read More

Expert Rev Clin Immunol 2020 Jul 7. Epub 2020 Jul 7.

Research Center for Immunodeficiencies, Children's Medical Center, Tehran University of Medical Sciences , Tehran, Iran.

Objectives: Human Ficolin-3 () is an oligomeric-structured lectin encoded by the gene with a pivotal role in the lectin complement pathway. It has anti-microbial activities against bacterial and viral infections and restrains opportunistic pathogens. Mutation in the gene is associated with variable clinical manifestations particularly immunologic (infections and autoimmunity) and neurologic complications. Read More

Exp Dermatol 2020 Jul 7. Epub 2020 Jul 7.

Department of Dermatology and Allergy, University Hospital Bonn, Germany.

Cutaneous lupus erythematosus (CLE) is a heterogeneous autoimmune disease encompassing a broad spectrum of skin conditions including localized plaques or widespread lesions, which may be accompanied by systemic involvement (systemic lupus erythematosus (SLE)). The disease is characterized by necroptotic keratinocytes and a cytotoxic immune cell infiltrate at the dermo-epidermal junction (DEJ), orchestrated by interferon (IFN)-regulated proinflammatory cytokines. Molecular analyses revealed a strong upregulation of innate and adaptive immune pathways in lesional skin including DNA-recognition pathways, chemokine signalling, antigen-presentation as well as B- and T-cell activation, which are believed to interact in a complex self-amplifying network. Read More

Proc Natl Acad Sci U S A 2020 Jul 6. Epub 2020 Jul 6.

Department of Pathology, Case Western Reserve University School of Medicine, Cleveland, OH 44106;

Signaling of 17β-estradiol (estrogen) through its two nuclear receptors, α and β (ERα, ERβ), is an important mechanism of transcriptional regulation. Although ERs are broadly expressed by cells of the immune system, the mechanisms by which they modulate immune responses remain poorly understood. ERβ-specific signaling is reduced in patients with chronic inflammatory diseases, including systemic lupus erythematosus and inflammatory bowel disease, and our previous work suggests that dysregulation of ERβ-specific signaling contributes to enhanced intestinal inflammation in female SAMP/YitFC mice, a spontaneous model of Crohn's disease-like ileitis. Read More

Rheum Dis Clin North Am 2020 Aug 10;46(3):533-550. Epub 2020 Jun 10.

Department of Medicine, McGill University, 1001 Decarie Boulevard, Suite D05-2212, Montreal, Quebec H4A 3J1, Canada; Division of Clinical Epidemiology, Research Institute of McGill University Health Centre, 5252 de Maisonneuve West, 3rd Floor, Montreal, Quebec H4A 3S5, Canada. Electronic address:

Systemic lupus erythematosus is associated with a small overall increased cancer risk compared with the general population. This risk includes a 4-fold increased risk of non-Hodgkin lymphoma, but a decreased risk of other cancers (such as breast cancer). The pathophysiology underlying the increased risk of hematologic cancer is not fully understood, but many potential mechanisms have been proposed, including dysfunction of the tumor necrosis factor and other pathways. Read More

Rheum Dis Clin North Am 2020 Aug 10;46(3):429-444. Epub 2020 Jun 10.

Division of Hematology, Department of Internal Medicine, Mayo Clinic, Mayo Building, East 10, 200 First Street Southwest, Rochester, MN 55905, USA. Electronic address:

Clonal hematopoiesis has been linked with the development of hematologic malignancy and atherosclerotic cardiovascular disease; however, the association with autoimmune diseases remains to be defined. The link between autoimmune diseases and myeloid neoplasms (MNs) is complex, often multifactorial, and seems bidirectional. The limited data suggest an increased risk of MNs in rheumatoid arthritis and systemic lupus erythematosus. Read More

Lupus 2020 Jul 6:961203320938456. Epub 2020 Jul 6.

Rheumatology Department, Hospital Clínic, Barcelona, Spain.

Background: The concomitant presence of two autoimmune diseases - systemic lupus erythematosus (SLE) and rheumatoid arthritis (RA) - in the same patient is known as rhupus. We evaluated a group of patients with rhupus to clarify further their clinical, serological and immunogenic features in a multi-centre cohort. In addition, the study aimed to explore the utility of the 2019 European League Against Rheumatism/American College of Rheumatology (EULAR/ACR) SLE classification criteria in our group of patients with rhupus. Read More

Lupus 2020 Jul 6:961203320936748. Epub 2020 Jul 6.

Division Cardiology, Department of Medicine, Stellenbosch University and Tygerberg Academic Hospital, Cape Town, South Africa.

Objectives: To determine the prevalence of myocardial injury (MInj) in systemic lupus erythematosus (SLE) according to cardiac magnetic resonance (CMR) criteria. To compare clinical and echocardiographic features of patients with and without MInj and identify predictors of myocardial tissue characteristics according to CMR.

Methods: SLE inpatients underwent CMR screening for MInj based on the Lake Louise Criteria (LLC). Read More

Lupus 2020 Jul 6:961203320939185. Epub 2020 Jul 6.

Paediatric Rheumatology Unit, Selayang Hospital, Batu Caves, Malaysia.

Background: Paediatric systemic lupus erythematosus is a rare autoimmune disease with a wide spectrum of clinical presentation in different populations. We present a cohort of paediatric systemic lupus erythematosus in Malaysia where the disease features and outcomes are still largely unknown.

Methods: A retrospective review of all paediatric systemic lupus erythematosus patients with at least 6 months follow-up at Selayang Hospital from 2004 to 2016. Read More

Hum Mol Genet 2020 Jul 6. Epub 2020 Jul 6.

HudsonAlpha Institute for Biotechnology, Huntsville, Alabama, United States of America.

A common feature of autoimmune diseases, including systemic lupus erythematosus (SLE), is an increased prevalence in women. However, the molecular basis for sex disparity in SLE remains poorly understood. To examine the role of X-linked transcription in SLE adaptive immune cells, we performed RNA-seq in T-cell and B-cell subsets from either healthy donors or patients with SLE. Read More