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Background/aim: In this prospective study, we aimed to investigate the association of serum (s) and urine (u) IP-10, galectin-9, and SIGLEC-1 with disease activity in patients with systemic lupus erythematosus (SLE). Materials and methods: Sixty-three patients with active SLE (31 renal, 32 extrarenal) were included. Thirty patients with inactive SLE (15 renal, 15 extrarenal), 17 with renal active AAV, and 32 healthy volunteers were selected as control groups. Serum and urine IP-10, galectin-9, and SIGLEC-1 were tested using ELISA. Results: Levels of sIP-10 (p = 0.046), uIP-10 (p < 0.001), sGalectin-9 (p = 0.03), and uSIGLEC-1 (p = 0.006) were significantly higher in active SLE group compared to the inactive SLE; however, no differences were detected in the comparison of uGalectin-9 (p = 0.18) and sSIGLEC-1 (p = 0.69) between two groups. None of the biomarkers discriminated patients with active renal SLE from active extrarenal SLE. ROC analyses revealed an AUC of 0.63 (0.52--0.73) for sIP-10, 0.78 (0.68--0.86) for uIP-10, 0.64 (0.53--0.74) for sGalectin-9, and 0.68 (0.57--0.77) for uSIGLEC-1 in discriminating disease activity in SLE, which did not outperform C3 (0.75, 0.64--0.84) and C4 (0.72, 0.61--0.82). sIP-10 (p = 0.001), uIP-10 (p = 0.042), and uGalectin-9 (p = 0.009) were significantly increased in patients with active renal SLE compared to active renal AAV. sGalectin-9 (p < 0.001) and sIP-10 levels (p = 0.06) were decreased after 8 (5--22.5) months of treatment. Conclusion: sIP-10, uIP-10, sGalectin-9, and uSIGLEC-1 reflect global disease activity in SLE but do not outperform C3 and C4. sIP-10 and uIP-10 may be specific for active SLE compared to active AAV. sIP-10 and sGalectin-9 might be valuable in monitoring response after treatment. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Objective: The annual hospitalization rate of patients with systemic lupus erythematosus (SLE) is approximately 10%, and hospitalizations are responsible for most of the healthcare expenses. Herein, we analyzed 5-year hospitalization data of SLE patients and determined factors leading to hospitalization. Methods: Clinical, laboratory, and hospitalization data of SLE patients admitted to our rheumatology clinic in 2015–2020 were retrieved from our SLE database and analyzed. SLICC SLE damage index (SDI) and disease activity at admission (SLEDAI-2K) were determined. Results: Among 161 hospitalized patients, 86% were females. Total rheumatologic hospitalization number was 298, and 38% of the patients were hospitalized more than once (1.85 ± 1.56). The mean hospitalization duration covering all stays for each patient was 25 ± 26.5 days. Active disease, infection, and damage-related complications were first three causes of hospitalization. Compared to patients hospitalized for active disease or damage, patients hospitalized for infection had a significantly higher number of readmissions (p <.05) and their total hospital stay was longer (p <.01). The frequency of patients with damage and the mean SDI score was significantly lower in the active disease group (68%, 1.93 ± 2.05) than hospitalizations for infection (90%, 2.68 ± 1.63) and damage-related causes (96%, 3.04 ± 1.65) (p <.05). The mean SDI score and duration (r = 0.551, p <.001) and the number of hospitalizations (r = 0.393, p <.001) were positively correlated. The mean disease activity scores of patients hospitalized for active disease, infection, and damage-related reasons were 11.03 ± 6.08, 3.21 ± 2.80, and 2.96 ± 3.32, respectively (p <.001). Renal active disease was the most common (44%), followed by hematological (34.8%), articular (21.7%), and mucocutaneous (21%) activity. Ten percent of the patients all of whom had damage were admitted to intensive care unit (ICU). Total hospitalization duration, mean SDI, antiphospholipid syndrome, lupus anticoagulant, thrombocytopenia, serositis, pulmonary hypertension, history of alveolar hemorrhage, and cardiac valve involvement were associated with ICU admission (p <.05 for all). Conclusion: Disease activity, infections, and damage are the leading causes of hospitalization in SLE patients. Damage prolongs hospital stay and increases hospitalization rate and ICU need. Tight control of disease activity with rational use of immunosuppressive treatment is important to reduce damage and hospitalizations. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Background: Rituximab (RTX) is being used for both induction and maintenance of anti‐neutrophil cytoplasmic antibody (ANCA) ‐associated vasculitis. However, the efficacy of RTX for the granulomatous findings of granulomatosis with polyangiitis (GPA) has not been demonstrated as clearly as its vasculitic manifestations. Case summary: A 46‐year‐old man was diagnosed in 2019 with GPA with constitutional symptoms, bilateral mastoiditis, prostatic necrosis, nodules in both lungs, pauci‐immune necrotizing glomerulonephritis and high level of PR3‐ANCA. He reached clinical remission after induction with high‐dose corticosteroids and intravenous cyclophosphamide pulses at the 3rd month. Two months following the second cycle of RTX as maintenance, he developed multiple cranial mass lesions, and excisional biopsy revealed necrotizing vasculitis with granuloma formation. Remission was achieved with long‐term high‐dose corticosteroid therapy after surgical excision. Conclusion: We observed a relapse of GPA with intracranial granulomatous lesions in a patient under RTX maintenance. Limited efficacy of RTX should be considered for mainly granulomatous manifestations in patients with GPA. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Objective: In this study, our pregnant systemic lupus erythematosus (SLE) cohort, which was under medical surveillance of both our Rheumatology and Obstetrics departments, was analyzed. We intended to determine the effects of pregnancy on disease activity and the correlation between disease flares and adverse pregnancy outcomes. Methods: One hundred sixty eight pregnancy data involving 136 patients with SLE were examined. Cumulative clinical, laboratory, and serological parameters were described. Disease activity and flares were calculated using the systemic lupus erythematosus disease activity index 2000 (SLEDAI-2K) in the pre/postpartum periods and the SLEPDAI in the three trimesters of pregnancy. Patients with a SLEDAI-2K or SLEPDAI ≥ 4 were classified as "active." Patients with lupus low disease activity state (LLDAS) during each of these periods were identified. Fetal/neonatal death, premature birth due to pre-eclampsia, eclampsia or hemolysis, elevated Liver enzymes (HELLP) syndrome, and neonates small for gestational age were determined as adverse pregnancy outcomes (APO). Results: Out of 168 pregnancies, there were 60 (35.7%) pregnancies with flares covering the pregnancy and 6 months of postpartum period. The mean SLEDAI in the 6 months postpartum period was significantly higher compared to mean disease activity during pregnancy (p <.05). Of all pregnancies, 132 (78.6%) were in LLDAS during pregnancy. Comparison of the frequency of severe postpartum flares in patients who were in LLDAS during pregnancy revealed a lower percentage of flares compared to those who were not in the LLDAS group (11 vs 29%, p <.05). APO was observed in 33.9% of 168 pregnancies. The mean SLEPDAI score was significantly higher in APO+ pregnancies than in APO− pregnancies (4.9 ± 6.1 vs 2.8 ± 4.9, p =.002). Comparison of SLICC damage score between APO – and + pregnancies revealed a significantly higher score in APO+ pregnancies (1.8 ± 2.1 vs 0.8 ± 1.3, p =.001). Conclusion: Postpartum six-month period appears to have the highest risk for disease flares during SLE pregnancies. Disease activity during pregnancy increases the risk of APO. In order to achieve a positive pregnancy outcome and lower maternal morbidity, regular follow-up of patients is necessary. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]