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The Cochrane Database of Systematic... Mar 2021Lupus erythematosus is an autoimmune disease with significant morbidity and mortality. Cutaneous disease in systemic lupus erythematosus (SLE) is common. Many...
BACKGROUND
Lupus erythematosus is an autoimmune disease with significant morbidity and mortality. Cutaneous disease in systemic lupus erythematosus (SLE) is common. Many interventions are used to treat SLE with varying efficacy, risks, and benefits.
OBJECTIVES
To assess the effects of interventions for cutaneous disease in SLE.
SEARCH METHODS
We searched the following databases up to June 2019: the Cochrane Skin Specialised Register, CENTRAL, MEDLINE, Embase, Wiley Interscience Online Library, and Biblioteca Virtual em Saude (Virtual Health Library). We updated our search in September 2020, but these results have not yet been fully incorporated.
SELECTION CRITERIA
We included randomised controlled trials (RCTs) of interventions for cutaneous disease in SLE compared with placebo, another intervention, no treatment, or different doses of the same intervention. We did not evaluate trials of cutaneous lupus in people without a diagnosis of SLE.
DATA COLLECTION AND ANALYSIS
We used standard methodological procedures expected by Cochrane. Primary outcomes were complete and partial clinical response. Secondary outcomes included reduction (or change) in number of clinical flares; and severe and minor adverse events. We used GRADE to assess the quality of evidence.
MAIN RESULTS
Sixty-one RCTs, involving 11,232 participants, reported 43 different interventions. Trials predominantly included women from outpatient clinics; the mean age range of participants was 20 to 40 years. Twenty-five studies reported baseline severity, and 22 studies included participants with moderate to severe cutaneous lupus erythematosus (CLE); duration of CLE was not well reported. Studies were conducted mainly in multi-centre settings. Most often treatment duration was 12 months. Risk of bias was highest for the domain of reporting bias, followed by performance/detection bias. We identified too few studies for meta-analysis for most comparisons. We limited this abstract to main comparisons (all administered orally) and outcomes. We did not identify clinical trials of other commonly used treatments, such as topical corticosteroids, that reported complete or partial clinical response or numbers of clinical flares. Complete clinical response Studies comparing oral hydroxychloroquine against placebo did not report complete clinical response. Chloroquine may increase complete clinical response at 12 months' follow-up compared with placebo (absence of skin lesions) (risk ratio (RR) 1.57, 95% confidence interval (CI) 0.95 to 2.61; 1 study, 24 participants; low-quality evidence). There may be little to no difference between methotrexate and chloroquine in complete clinical response (skin rash resolution) at 6 months' follow-up (RR 1.13, 95% CI 0.84 to 1.50; 1 study, 25 participants; low-quality evidence). Methotrexate may be superior to placebo with regard to complete clinical response (absence of malar/discoid rash) at 6 months' follow-up (RR 3.57, 95% CI 1.63 to 7.84; 1 study, 41 participants; low-quality evidence). At 12 months' follow-up, there may be little to no difference between azathioprine and ciclosporin in complete clinical response (malar rash resolution) (RR 0.83, 95% CI 0.46 to 1.52; 1 study, 89 participants; low-quality evidence). Partial clinical response Partial clinical response was reported for only one key comparison: hydroxychloroquine may increase partial clinical response at 12 months compared to placebo, but the 95% CI indicates that hydroxychloroquine may make no difference or may decrease response (RR 7.00, 95% CI 0.41 to 120.16; 20 pregnant participants, 1 trial; low-quality evidence). Clinical flares Clinical flares were reported for only two key comparisons: hydroxychloroquine is probably superior to placebo at 6 months' follow-up for reducing clinical flares (RR 0.49, 95% CI 0.28 to 0.89; 1 study, 47 participants; moderate-quality evidence). At 12 months' follow-up, there may be no difference between methotrexate and placebo, but the 95% CI indicates there may be more or fewer flares with methotrexate (RR 0.77, 95% CI 0.32 to 1.83; 1 study, 86 participants; moderate-quality evidence). Adverse events Data for adverse events were limited and were inconsistently reported, but hydroxychloroquine, chloroquine, and methotrexate have well-documented adverse effects including gastrointestinal symptoms, liver problems, and retinopathy for hydroxychloroquine and chloroquine and teratogenicity during pregnancy for methotrexate.
AUTHORS' CONCLUSIONS
Evidence supports the commonly-used treatment hydroxychloroquine, and there is also evidence supporting chloroquine and methotrexate for treating cutaneous disease in SLE. Evidence is limited due to the small number of studies reporting key outcomes. Evidence for most key outcomes was low or moderate quality, meaning findings should be interpreted with caution. Head-to-head intervention trials designed to detect differences in efficacy between treatments for specific CLE subtypes are needed. Thirteen further trials are awaiting classification and have not yet been incorporated in this review; they may alter the review conclusions.
Topics: Age of Onset; Azathioprine; Bias; Biological Factors; Chloroquine; Cosmetic Techniques; Cyclosporine; Dermatologic Agents; Exanthema; Female; Humans; Hydroxychloroquine; Immunosuppressive Agents; Lupus Erythematosus, Cutaneous; Lupus Erythematosus, Systemic; Male; Medicine, Chinese Traditional; Methotrexate; Placebos; Quality of Life; Randomized Controlled Trials as Topic; Skin Diseases; Symptom Flare Up
PubMed: 33687069
DOI: 10.1002/14651858.CD007478.pub2 -
Journal of Clinical Medicine Feb 2021Childhood onset systemic lupus erythematosus is a rare disease that is more common amongst Southeast Asian children compared to the West. It is typified by a... (Review)
Review
Childhood onset systemic lupus erythematosus is a rare disease that is more common amongst Southeast Asian children compared to the West. It is typified by a peripubertal onset and a female preponderance, which increases with advancing age. Organs commonly involved at diagnosis include haematological, renal, and mucocutaneous. Fever, malar rash, and cutaneous vasculitis are common. Lupus nephritis is typically proliferative especially Class IV and contributes to both disease activity and damage. Antinuclear antibody and anti-dsDNA positivity are both prevalent in this region. Disease activity is higher than Western cohorts at onset but responds to therapy reducing to low disease activity by six months. However, organ damage occurs early and continues to accumulate over the time, a consequence of both active disease (neurological and renal systems) and steroid-related complications especially in the eye (cataract and glaucoma) and musculoskeletal systems (avascular necrosis). Infections remain the leading cause of death and mortality in this region is highly variable contributed by the heterogeneity in social economic status, healthcare access, and availability of paediatric rheumatology expertise in the region.
PubMed: 33546120
DOI: 10.3390/jcm10040559 -
Mucocutaneous manifestations in juvenile-onset systemic lupus erythematosus: a review of literature.Pediatric Rheumatology Online Journal 2015Patients diagnosed with juvenile-onset systemic lupus erythematosus (JSLE) often have skin and oral lesions as part of their presentation. These mucocutaneous lesions,... (Review)
Review
Patients diagnosed with juvenile-onset systemic lupus erythematosus (JSLE) often have skin and oral lesions as part of their presentation. These mucocutaneous lesions, as defined by the American College of Rheumatology (ACR) in 1997, include malar rash, discoid rash, photosensitivity and oral ulcers. It is therefore essential to recognize mucocutaneous lesions to accurately diagnose JSLE. The mucocutaneous lesions can be divided into those with classical histological features (LE specific) and those strongly associated with and forming part of the diagnostic spectrum, but without the classical histological changes of lupus (LE nonspecific). A malar rash is the most commonly associated LE specific dermatological presentation. This skin manifestation is an acute form and also correlates with disease activity. Subacute (polycyclic or papulosquamous lesions) and chronic (discoid lesions) forms, whilst showing classical histological changes supportive of lupus, are less commonly associated with systemic lupus and do not correlate with disease activity. The most commonly associated skin lesions without classical lupus changes are cutaneous vasculitis, oral ulcers and diffuse non-scarring alopecia. These signs frequently relate to disease activity. An understanding of cutaneous signs and symptoms of lupus in children is important to avoid delay in diagnosis. They will often improve as lupus is adequately controlled and their reappearance is often the first indicator of a disease flare.
Topics: Age of Onset; Child; Delayed Diagnosis; Diagnosis, Differential; Humans; Lupus Erythematosus, Systemic; Mouth Diseases; Mouth Mucosa; Skin; Skin Diseases
PubMed: 25587243
DOI: 10.1186/1546-0096-13-1 -
The Cochrane Database of Systematic... Apr 2023Systemic lupus erythematosus (SLE) is a rare, chronic autoimmune inflammatory disease with a prevalence varying from 4.3 to 150 people in 100,000, or approximately five... (Review)
Review
BACKGROUND
Systemic lupus erythematosus (SLE) is a rare, chronic autoimmune inflammatory disease with a prevalence varying from 4.3 to 150 people in 100,000, or approximately five million people worldwide. Systemic manifestations frequently include internal organ involvement, a characteristic malar rash on the face, pain in joints and muscles, and profound fatigue. Exercise is purported to be beneficial for people with SLE. For this review, we focused on studies that examined all types of structured exercise as an adjunctive therapy in the management of SLE.
OBJECTIVES
To evaluate the benefits and harms of structured exercise as adjunctive therapy for adults with SLE compared with usual pharmacological care, usual pharmacological care plus placebo and usual pharmacological care plus non-pharmacological care.
SEARCH METHODS
We used standard, extensive Cochrane search methods. The latest search date was 30 March 2022.
SELECTION CRITERIA
We included randomised controlled trials (RCTs) of exercise as an adjunct to usual pharmacological treatment in SLE compared with placebo, usual pharmacological care alone and another non-pharmacological treatment. Major outcomes were fatigue, functional capacity, disease activity, quality of life, pain, serious adverse events, and withdrawals due to any reason, including any adverse events.
DATA COLLECTION AND ANALYSIS
We used standard Cochrane methods. Our major outcomes were 1. fatigue, 2. functional capacity, 3. disease activity, 4. quality of life, 5. pain, 6. serious adverse events, and 7. withdrawals due to any reason. Our minor outcomes were 8. responder rate, 9. aerobic fitness, 10. depression, and 11. anxiety. We used GRADE to assess certainty of evidence. The primary comparison was exercise compared with placebo.
MAIN RESULTS
We included 13 studies (540 participants) in this review. Studies compared exercise as an adjunct to usual pharmacological care (antimalarials, immunosuppressants, and oral glucocorticoids) with usual pharmacological care plus placebo (one study); usual pharmacological care (six studies); and another non-pharmacological treatment such as relaxation therapy (seven studies). Most studies had selection bias, and all studies had performance and detection bias. We downgraded the evidence for all comparisons because of a high risk of bias and imprecision. Exercise plus usual pharmacological care versus placebo plus usual pharmacological care Evidence from a single small study (17 participants) that compared whole body vibration exercise to whole body placebo vibration exercise (vibrations switched off) indicated that exercise may have little to no effect on fatigue, functional capacity, and pain (low-certainty evidence). We are uncertain whether exercise results in fewer or more withdrawals (very low-certainty evidence). The study did not report disease activity, quality of life, and serious adverse events. The study measured fatigue using the self-reported Functional Assessment of Chronic Illness Therapy - Fatigue (FACIT-Fatigue), scale 0 to 52; lower score means less fatigue. People who did not exercise rated their fatigue at 38 points and those who did exercise rated their fatigue at 33 points (mean difference (MD) 5 points lower, 95% confidence interval (CI) 13.29 lower to 3.29 higher). The study measured functional capacity using the self-reported 36-item Short Form health questionnaire (SF-36) Physical Function domain, scale 0 to 100; higher score means better function. People who did not exercise rated their functional capacity at 70 points and those who did exercise rated their functional capacity at 67.5 points (MD 2.5 points lower, 95% CI 23.78 lower to 18.78 higher). The study measured pain using the SF-36 Pain domain, scale 0 to 100; lower scores mean less pain. People who did not exercise rated their pain at 43 points and those who did exercise rated their pain at 34 points (MD 9 points lower, 95% CI 28.88 lower to 10.88 higher). More participants from the exercise group (3/11, 27%) withdrew from the study than the placebo group (1/10, 10%) (risk ratio (RR) 2.73, 95% CI 0.34 to 22.16). Exercise plus usual pharmacological care versus usual pharmacological care alone The addition of exercise to usual pharmacological care may have little to no effect on fatigue, functional capacity, and disease activity (low-certainty evidence). We are uncertain whether the addition of exercise improves pain (very low-certainty evidence), or results in fewer or more withdrawals (very low-certainty evidence). Serious adverse events and quality of life were not reported. Exercise plus usual care versus another non-pharmacological intervention such as receiving information about the disease or relaxation therapy Compared with education or relaxation therapy, exercise may reduce fatigue slightly (low-certainty evidence), may improve functional capacity (low-certainty evidence), probably results in little to no difference in disease activity (moderate-certainty evidence), and may result in little to no difference in pain (low-certainty evidence). We are uncertain whether exercise results in fewer or more withdrawals (very low-certainty evidence). Quality of life and serious adverse events were not reported.
AUTHORS' CONCLUSIONS
Due to low- to very low-certainty evidence, we are not confident on the benefits of exercise on fatigue, functional capacity, disease activity, and pain, compared with placebo, usual care, or advice and relaxation therapy. Harms data were not well reported.
Topics: Adult; Humans; Exercise; Fatigue; Exercise Therapy; Pain; Lupus Erythematosus, Systemic; Quality of Life
PubMed: 37073886
DOI: 10.1002/14651858.CD014816.pub2 -
Cureus Jun 2022Background and objectives Systemic lupus erythematosus (SLE) is a chronic multisystem disorder exhibiting a wide spectrum of clinical and immunological abnormalities....
Background and objectives Systemic lupus erythematosus (SLE) is a chronic multisystem disorder exhibiting a wide spectrum of clinical and immunological abnormalities. Skin is the second most affected organ; lesions may precede systemic manifestations and foretell systemic involvement. Correlation between systemic manifestations and immunological profile is known but the interplay between antibodies and cutaneous findings is an area of recent interest. The present study aims to evaluate the demographic differences, pattern and prevalence of skin lesions, and correlation between cutaneous, systemic manifestations, and serological profile in SLE. Methods A total of 40 patients diagnosed with SLE, fulfilling Systemic Lupus International Collaborating Clinics (SLICC) criteria (2012), who visited the Dermatology outpatient department between April 2019 to April 2020 were recruited. Demographic details, evaluation of cutaneous lesions as lupus erythematosus (LE) specific and LE non-specific, systemic examination, hematological tests, and serological profile findings were noted. Results The mean age of onset was 23.3 years with a female to male ratio of 19:1. Common LE-specific lesions were malar rash (77.5%), photosensitivity (70%), and generalized maculopapular rash (20%). Frequently occurring LE non-specific lesions were non-scarring alopecia (60%), oral ulcers (45%), and vasculitis (12.5%). Arthritis (77.5%) and nephritis (30%) were common systemic findings. Among 14 patients with cutaneous manifestations alone, 12 (85%) had antinuclear antibody (ANA), eight (57%) had anti-double-stranded DNA (anti-dsDNA), four (28%) had anti-Smith (anti-Sm) and anti-RO/Sjögren's syndrome antigen A (Anti-RO/SSA), three (21%) had anti-histone, and one (7%) had anti-ribonucleoprotein (anti-RNP) antibodies in serum. Conclusions Lower age at onset, high prevalence of photosensitivity, anemia, and alopecia with a low prevalence of Raynaud's phenomenon suggest environmental influence in the context of the Indian population. A positive immunological profile in patients with cutaneous involvement alone gives an opportunity to the caregiver to identify the disease process much before systemic manifestations are expressed.
PubMed: 35812543
DOI: 10.7759/cureus.25763 -
Case Reports in Medicine 2022Muscle-specific tyrosine kinase (MuSK) antibody positive myasthenia gravis (MuSK-MG) is a rare clinical disorder, and diagnosing it can be challenging. Most of the...
INTRODUCTION
Muscle-specific tyrosine kinase (MuSK) antibody positive myasthenia gravis (MuSK-MG) is a rare clinical disorder, and diagnosing it can be challenging. Most of the patients present with predominant facial, oculo-bulbar, and neck muscle weakness along with respiratory muscle involvement. Such a presentation can be mistaken for bulbar onset motor neuron disease or as one of the rare oculopharyngeal myopathies. . We present a young female patient, who reported to us with neck muscle weakness, ocular and bulbar muscle paralysis, and breathing difficulty. She had been healthy till she was prescribed hydroxychloroquine (HCQ) tablets (400 mg per day) for a malar rash. By the end of the second week after commencing the HCQ therapy, she developed the muscle weakness. Her symptoms began to regress after stopping HCQ and starting steroids, pyridostigmine, and, subsequently, azathioprine. She was negative for anticholinesterase receptor antibodies (AChR-Ab) but was positive for MuSK antibodies (MuSK-Ab).
CONCLUSION
This report proves that MuSK-MG can also be unmasked by HCQ administration. Awareness of drug-induced/-unmasked MG is important, as failure to do so may result in a severe morbidity and a fatal outcome. The offending drug has to be promptly discontinued, and appropriate treatment should be instituted.
PubMed: 35874444
DOI: 10.1155/2022/4802538 -
Cureus Oct 2020Rheumatoid arthritis and systemic lupus erythematosus (SLE) are autoimmune diseases that are commonly seen in the female population. Rheumatoid arthritis mainly consists... (Review)
Review
Rheumatoid arthritis and systemic lupus erythematosus (SLE) are autoimmune diseases that are commonly seen in the female population. Rheumatoid arthritis mainly consists of distal symmetrical deforming polyarthritis. SLE patients have immune complexes that damage the organs and systems of the body, and this can present with one or more symptoms including the characteristic malar rash, serositis, lupus nephritis, photosensitivity, and arthritis of large joints. The onset and progression of the diseases are affected by physiological processes that occur in the body such as menopause and aging. The studies used as evidence were found in the PubMed, ScienceDirect, ProQuest, Taylor & Francis Online, Wiley Online Library, Ovid, and Oxford Academic databases. By analyzing these studies, the effects of aging and menopause on rheumatoid arthritis and SLE were revealed. In relation to menopause and aging, it was found that there was a progression of disease in women who had rheumatoid arthritis. However, aging and menopause caused the progression of SLE to decrease in women. An earlier age of onset of menopause was correlated with an increased chance of developing rheumatoid arthritis and SLE. Furthermore, while some studies showed that a later onset of SLE caused an increase in the progression of the disease, other studies showed that a later onset of SLE led to a decrease in the progression of the disease. Due to the prevalence of rheumatoid arthritis and SLE in females, we believe that the effects of menopause, age, and other factors on these two diseases should be examined in future studies.
PubMed: 33072443
DOI: 10.7759/cureus.10944 -
Medicina (Kaunas, Lithuania) May 2023Systemic Lupus Erythematosus (SLE) is a systemic autoimmune disease that attacks various organ systems with a variety of clinical implications, ranging from mild skin... (Review)
Review
Systemic Lupus Erythematosus (SLE) is a systemic autoimmune disease that attacks various organ systems with a variety of clinical implications, ranging from mild skin and mucosal manifestations to severe central nervous system manifestations and death. Cases of SLE have been documented nearly two centuries ago when scholars used the terms 'erythema centrifugum' and 'seborrhea congestiva' to describe the discoid skin lesions and the butterfly or malar rash in SLE. Since then, knowledge about this disease has developed rapidly, especially knowledge related to the underlying pathogenesis of SLE. To date, it is known that immune system dysregulation, supported by genetic and environmental predisposition, can trigger the occurrence of SLE in a group of susceptible individuals. Various inflammatory mediators, cytokines and chemokines, as well as intra- and intercellular signaling pathways, are involved in the pathogenesis of SLE. In this review, we will discuss the molecular and cellular aspects of SLE pathogenesis, with a focus on how the immune system, genetics and the environment interact and trigger the various clinical manifestations of SLE.
Topics: Humans; Lupus Erythematosus, Systemic; Skin; Skin Diseases; Cytokines
PubMed: 37374237
DOI: 10.3390/medicina59061033 -
Seminars in Arthritis and Rheumatism Dec 2022Juvenile Dermatomyositis (JDM), a severe and rare autoimmune disease, is the most common idiopathic inflammatory myopathy in children. We describe the clinical features...
INTRODUCTION
Juvenile Dermatomyositis (JDM), a severe and rare autoimmune disease, is the most common idiopathic inflammatory myopathy in children. We describe the clinical features of a large single-centre cohort.
METHODS
We studied an inception cohort (0-18 years old) referred for diagnosis to the JDM clinic at The Hospital for Sick Children (SickKids), between January 1989 and September 2017. Probable or definite diagnosis of JDM was done according to the 2017 ACR/EULAR Criteria. We excluded children who had treatment started at another hospital. The data were collected retrospectively from clinical charts and the SickKids JDM database.
RESULTS
172/230 (74.8%) patients were included. They were most often female (female:male = 1.8:1); the age at diagnosis was 8.5±4.3 years. There was a positive family history for autoimmune disease in 52%, mainly rheumatoid arthritis. No patient died. The most common signs at inception were muscle weakness (85.5%), nailfold capillary abnormalities (83.4%), Gottron papules (78.5%), heliotrope rash (66.3%), abnormal gait (55.8%), and malar/facial rash (54.7%). The prevalence of Gottron papules, heliotrope rash, facial/malar rash, nailfold capillary abnormalities, Raynaud phenomenon, dysphonia/dysphagia (a frequent cause of hospitalization), mouth ulcers, calcinosis, eye problems, joint involvement, acanthosis nigricans and lipodystrophy increased during follow-up. Muscle enzymes, namely CK, ALT, AST, were often normal or only slightly raised despite active muscle disease; conversely LD was often high. Anti-Nuclear Autoantibodies were positive in 49.7% of patients at diagnosis. The course of the disease was: 29.1% monocyclic, 5.3% polycyclic, 33.1% chronic. The course of 56 patients (32.5%) was not classifiable due to length of follow-up. Corticosteroids were used as treatment in almost all our patients and 30% required intravenous therapy due to the severity of the presentation; methotrexate was added in 64%, more often in recent years. Unresponsive patients were treated mostly with intravenous immunoglobulins (IVIG).
CONCLUSIONS
The information obtained from this relatively large number of patients adds to the growing knowledge base of this rare disease.
TRIAL REGISTRATION
SickKids Research Ethics Board approved the study.
Topics: Humans; Male; Female; Child, Preschool; Child; Infant, Newborn; Infant; Adolescent; Dermatomyositis; Retrospective Studies; Myositis; Autoimmune Diseases; Exanthema
PubMed: 36183479
DOI: 10.1016/j.semarthrit.2022.152104