[Cognitive impairment as a predictor of functional decline after hospitalization: DECOFIRH Study]

AIM

Cognitive impairment is underdiagnosed in the elderly. We aimed to study the rate of positive responses to an informant-based questionnaires and functional disability after hospital discharge.

PATIENTS AND METHODS

Observational prospective case series of patients aged 70-85 years-old admitted for hospitalization in an Internal Medicine ward. All medical records were reviewed and those patients with no previous diagnosis of dementia or related neurological conditions, no previous recent hospitalization or not having a caregiver were evaluated after signing an informed consent. A medical interview including the Alzheimer's Disease 8 (AD8), the Informant Questionnaire on Cognitive Decline in the Elderly (IQCODE) and Barthel Index was completed. Barthel Index was obtained three months after discharge.

RESULTS

During a 3-month period a total of 809 admissions were screened and 79 (9.7%) fulfilled the study criteria. Patient's mean age was 80 years-old. Common comorbidities were arterial hypertension (83.5%), major surgery (54.4%) and heart disorders (50.6%). The most frequent cause of admission was infectious disease (37.9%). Test positivity for cognitive impairment was 30.3% for IQCODE and 34.1% for AD8. At admission 37.9% of the patients were functionally independent. At three months this percentage dropped to 24%.

CONCLUSIONS

In this small sample size, almost a third of older patients, without major comorbidities or neurological disorders, admitted to a general hospital showed an informant-based suggestion of cognitive impairment previously undiagnosed. Functional impairment affects almost a quarter of these patients three months after admission.

Monoclonal gammopathy in systemic lupus erythematosus

We studied the prevalence, type and associated features of monoclonal gammopathy in patients with systemic lupus erythematosus (SLE). Patients included in the University of Toronto Lupus Database with an abnormal band on serum electropheresis were identified. Monoclonal gammopathy patients were matched with two controls each from the same database by age at SLE diagnosis, sex and disease duration. Of 1083 patients followed at the Lupus Clinic 59 (5.4%) were identified with monoclonal gammopathy. The gammopathies included 32 with IgG, 14 IgM and 12 IgA, one undefined. Nine (15.3%) malignancies were detected in monoclonal gammopathy and 12 (10.1%) in the controls during the entire course of their disease ( P = 0.13). None had multiple myeloma. There was no difference between patients with monoclonal gammopathy and their controls with respect to disease activity, damage, or dose of steroids. The mean ESR and gammaglobulin levels in the monoclonal gammopathy patients were higher than the controls at last visit. We conclude that monoclonal gammopathy is more frequent in SLE patients than in the general population and has a benign course in patients with SLE. There were no differences in disease manifestations, treatment approaches, or malignancies between SLE patients with and those without monoclonal gammopathy. Lupus (2007) 16, 426—429.

Impaired brachial artery endothelium dependent flow mediated dilation in systemic lupus erythematosus: preliminary observations

Our objective was to compare brachial artery endothelium dependent and independent vasodilation in lupus patients and healthy females, by means of high-resolution noninvasive brachial artery ultrasound. Endothelially mediated vasodilation was estimated noninvasively by examination of brachial artery responses to postischemic reactive hyperemia and endothelial independent vasodilation from response to sublingual glycerlynitrate (GTN) using high-resolution external vascular ultrasound. Five patients with known coronary artery disease (CAD), five with subclinical CAD, five with no CAD and five control subjects were assessed. Endothelium dependent vasodilation was significantly blunted in lupus patients with CAD as compared with healthy female controls (0.11 versus 11.1%, P 1/4 0.018). Corresponding values for lupus patients with subclinical CAD and no CAD were 11 and 9.6%, respectively. For each subject, endothelium dependent vasodilation (EDV) was related to endothelium independent vasodilation (EIV) to adjust for varying vascular smooth muscle responses to GTN in individual subjects. This ratio was markedly depressed in lupus patients with CAD as compared with control subjects (0.12 versus 1.15). The corresponding EDV/EIV ratios for patients with subclinical CAD and no CAD were similar at 0.69 and 0.65, respectively. The conclusion was that flow mediated vasodilation in lupus patients with coronary artery disease is markedly depressed as compared to healthy subjects.

Association of killer cell immunoglobulin–like receptor genotypes with vascular arterial events and anticardiolipin antibodies in patients with lupus

To determine whether killer cell immunologlobulin–like receptor (KIR) genotypes are associated with vasculitis, vascular arterial events or anticardiolipin (aCL) antibodies in patients with lupus. A total of 304 patients followed prospectively at the University of Toronto Lupus Clinic were assessed for the occurrence of vasculitis and vascular arterial events. Molecular HLA-C and KIR (presence or absence of KIR2DL1, 2DL2, 2DL3, 2DS1 and 2DS2) genotyping were performed. Chi-square and logistic regression were used to analyse association between KIR genes and vascular arterial events and aCL antibodies. In patients with vascular arterial events, there was a significant increase in KIR2DS2 (60% vs 45%, P = 0.02) and in KIR2DL2 (62% vs 47%, P = 0.01) compared with patients without events. There was no increase in activating KIR genotypes in patients with vasculitis. In patients with aCL antibodies, significant increases were seen in KIR2DS2 (54% vs 41%, P = 0.03) and KIR2DL2 (58% vs 41%, P = 0.003), but KIR2DL3 was decreased (87% vs 95%, P = 0.03). Logistic regression confirmed independent association of KIR2DS2 with vascular arterial events. We found an increase in KIR2DS2 in lupus patients with vascular arterial events, but not in patients with vasculitis.

The role of non-corticosteroid related factors in osteonecrosis (ON) in systemic lupus erythematosus: a nested case-control study of inception patients

Several factors have been associated with the development of osteonecrosis (ON) in SLE but corticosteroid (CS) therapy has been the most consistent association. We sought to determine factors that predisposed to, or protected from, the development of ON in lupus patients when cumulative oral corticosteroid doses were matched between cases and controls, thereby removing presence of corticosteroid therapy and cumulative dose as risk factors. A nested case-control study of an inception cohort of SLE patients was used to determine the clinical, laboratory and therapeutic differences between patients who developed their first ON event and patients who did not develop ON, having matched these groups for their cumulative oral corticosteroid doses. Of the 570 patients seen within the first year after diagnosis 65 (11.4%) developed ON. None of the variables examined were found to confer additional ON risk in multivariate analysis. It appears that the major factor associated with the development of ON is corticosteroid therapy. Factors which may protect a majority of patients on corticosteroids from developing ON remain to be elucidated.

Modification of hypertension and hypercholesterolaemia in patients with systemic lupus erythematosus: a quality improvement study

BACKGROUND

Hypercholesterolaemia and hypertension are risk factors for coronary artery disease in patients with systemic lupus erythematosus (SLE).

OBJECTIVE

To examine the recognition and management of hypercholesterolaemia and hypertension in patients with SLE before and after a quality improvement study.

METHOD

Patients with SLE have been followed up prospectively at the University of Toronto Lupus Clinic since 1970. The charts of all patients who entered the clinic since 1990 were reviewed to ensure completeness of data on anti-hypertensive treatment (AHT) and lipid lowering agents (LLA). Recognition and management of hypercholesterolaemia and hypertension were evaluated for the periods 1990-1995 and 1996-2001.

RESULTS

Comparison of treatment between time periods showed that during 1990-1995 204/559 (36%) patients seen were hypertensive, of whom 180 (88%) were receiving AHT, and during 1996-2001 241/576 (42%) patients seen were hypertensive, of whom 232 (96%) were receiving AHT (p = 0.0013). A comparison of treatment for hypercholesterolaemia showed that 21/236 (9%) hypercholesterolaemic patients were being treated with LLA in the earlier period compared with 74/261 (28%) in the later period (p<0.0001).

CONCLUSIONS

Treatment for hypertension and hyperlipidaemia has increased in the past 6 years compared with the previous 6 years, but a number of patients eligible for these treatments remain untreated.

Osteoporosis in systemic lupus erythematosus: factors associated with referral for bone mineral density studies, prevalence of osteoporosis and factors associated with reduced bone density

The purpose of this study was to evaluate the clinical characteristics of women with systemic lupus erythematosus (SLE) sent for a dual energy X-ray absorptiometry (DEXA) study, and to analyse the factors associated with a lower bone mineral density in these patients. Women with SLE who had a DEXA done between 1 January 1995 and 31 December 2000 were compared with those who did not have DEXA scans performed. SLE patients with osteoporosis (OP) were compared with those with a normal bone density. Of 516 women with SLE, 205 had a DEXA done. These patients had more traditional risk factors for osteoporosis, higher lupus disease activity, renal involvement, increased damage, higher mean steroid dose, increased use of immunosuppressants and occurrence of avascular necrosis. Of the 205 patients with DEXA, 18% had osteoporosis, 48.8% had osteopenia and 33.2% had normal bone mineral density. The two statistically significant predictors of a low bone density were a higher age at time of DEXA (P = 0.0003) and a higher SDI score (P = 0.0019). Osteoporosis is a significant comorbidity in SLE. Lupus patients referred for a DEXA have more traditional risk factors and use more corticosteroids. The main factors associated with a low bone density were however found to be age and increased damage. Interestingly, disease activity and corticosteroid use were not associated with osteoporosis in this study which may suggest other potential causes such as decreased physical activity associated with damage.

Significance of isolated hematuria and isolated pyuria in systemic lupus erythematosus

Hematuria or sterile pyuria as isolated urinary findings present a clinical dilemma for the treating physician. Our objective was to determine whether isolated hematuria and isolated sterile pyuria are associated with active systemic lupus erythematosus (SLE) with respect to renal and non-renal disease activity. This is a descriptive study from a large SLE cohort followed prospectively at the University of Toronto Lupus Clinic. All episodes of isolated hematuria and isolated pyuria between 1970 and 2000 were identified from our database. Isolated hematuria was defined as > 5 red blood cells per high power field; isolated sterile pyuria was defined as > 5 white blood cells per high power field in the absence of urinary infection and other renal manifestations. Non-renal disease activity (defined as nrSLEDAI > 1) was determined at first episode of isolated hematuria and pyuria. Renal disease activity was assessed by scoring renal biopsies within 3 months of detecting isolated hematuria or sterile pyuria. Thirty-four percent (323/946) of our cohort had at least one episode of isolated hematuria. Seventy-seven percent of these patients had concurrent non-renal disease activity. Of the 22 biopsies scored with isolated hematuria, 96% were abnormal (WHO > class I), including 52% with active nephritis. Twenty-three percent (215/946) had at least one episode of isolated sterile pyuria. Seventy-eight percent of these patients had concurrent non-renal disease activity. All 12 biopsies scored with isolated pyuria were abnormal (WHO Class > 1), including 75% with active nephritis. The appearance of isolated hematuria and isolated pyuria is associated with active renal and non-renal disease activity. An ongoing debate has emerged regarding the significance of isolated hematuria and isolated pyuria with respect to SLE disease activity. The results of this study suggest that isolated hematuria and isolated pyuria is associated with active renal and non-renal disease activity. Thus isolated hematuria and isolated sterile pyuria should be considered manifestations of active SLE.

The peri-implant breast capsule: an immunophenotypic study of capsules taken at explantation surgery

Silicone-based breast implants continue to be the focus of many studies attempting to correlate implant failure to clinical and pathological factors. Routine pathology of peri-implant capsule is extensively described in the literature. The actual significance of the cellular events remains unconfirmed, particularly with reference to clinical outcome. This study reviews our experience with explanted capsules. The study makes specific reference to the immunohistochemistry of the cells participating in the capsule and the significance of the immunophenotypic characterization of these cells to clinical outcome. The use of a wide selection of immunomarkers for T and B lymphocytes and histiocytes provided no supporting evidence for local cell participation in the capsule, which may indicate the presence of an immunological reaction present in the capsule at the time of explantation. One was only able to confirm the presence of a low grade inflammatory process and progression to fibrosis and calcification over time. Statistical correlation was obtained only between Baker grade of capsular contracture and CD3/CD68 immunomarker positivity. CD45RO did show correlation with pain. No correlation was demonstrated with calcification. The results obtained in this study highlighted the need for further investigations into the mechanism of histiocyte and fibrocyte recruitment and activation in the capsule, a possible source of pain and contracture, which is a serious long-term clinical finding leading to the necessity for explantation.

Higher urinary potassium is associated with decreased stone growth after shock wave lithotripsy

PURPOSE

We correlated serum and urinary biochemical parameters with radiological evidence of stone growth after shock wave lithotripsy.

MATERIALS AND METHODS

Biochemical parameters in serum and 24-hour urine collections of 359 patients were correlated with stone growth for 2 years after shock wave lithotripsy. Each patient underwent a minimum of 2 radiological studies at 3 and 12 months and plain abdominal x-ray at 24 months. The presence and size of stones were documented by a radiologist in blinded fashion. Stone growth was defined as measurable growth of a preexisting stone or new stone formation.

RESULTS

A total of 209 patients remained stone-free or had no existing stone growth, while stone size decreased in 30. Of the remaining 120 patients with stone growth 72 had new growth and 48 had growth of preexisting stones. Urinary excretion of potassium was significantly higher in those without than with stone growth (mean 24-hour urine collection plus or minus standard deviation 62 +/- 27 versus 54 +/- 23 mmol., p = 0.009). The only parameter significantly associated with stone growth was urinary potassium. Linear regression revealed that for each 10 unit increase in urinary potassium there was a corresponding 2 mm. decrease in stone growth (p = 0.013).

CONCLUSIONS

Our results indicate that increased urinary potassium excretion correlates with a decreased risk of stone growth up to 2 years after shock wave lithotripsy, implying that a high potassium diet may be beneficial for preventing stone growth. The effect of potassium supplementation on stone formation and growth must be investigated further.

An outcome analysis of 100 women after explantation of silicone gel breast implants

A prospective outcome analysis was conducted on 100 consecutive women who requested explantation of their silicone gel breast implants from January 6, 1992 (the moratorium), through 1995. Eighteen patients were referred by rheumatologists with a diagnosis of autoimmune or rheumatic disease. Six had autoimmune disease (systemic lupus, 2 patients; rheumatoid arthritis, 2 patients; multiple sclerosis, 1 patient; and Raynaud's disease, 1 patient). Twelve had rheumatic disease (fibromyalgia, 10 patients; inflammatory arthritis, 2 patients). All of these 18 patients had developed symptoms of their disease after they had received implants. All 100 patients were extensively evaluated pre- and postoperatively by interviews, clinical assessment, and by assay of the following laboratory tests: rheumatoid factor, ESR, ANA, and anti-Ro/SSA, -La/SSP, -Sm, -RNP, -double-stranded deoxyribonucleic acid, -Scl-70, -centromere, and -cardiolipin. Patients were also evaluated by a questionnaire that was sent at a mean time of 2.7 years postexplantation (range, 1-5 years), which had a 75% response rate. Reasons for implants were augmentation, 75%; lifting, 11%; reconstruction, 12%; and congenital aplasia, 2%. The mean age at first implant was 28.9 years (range, 13-55 years) and at explantation was 41.5 years (range, 25-65 years). The mean duration of implantation was 12.0 years (range, 1-27 years). Thirty-six percent of the patients had undergone at least one closed capsulotomy and 54% at least one open capsulotomy. The mean reasons for explantation were suspected silicone-related health problems, 76%; suspected rupture, 59%; breast firmness, 36%; breast pain, 36%; and musculoskeletal pain, 23%. Before explantation 75% of the questionnaire respondees had lost some sensitivity in their nipples following their breast augmentation. In 36% of those 75 patients, that loss was almost complete. Loss of sensitivity was related to capsular contracture and to pain (p < 0.05). Following explantation there was significant improvement in nipple sensitivity in 38% of breasts in the 75 respondees. A total of 186 implants were removed. Fifty-seven percent had failed by rupturing or leaking. Only 3.2% demonstrated extravasation extracapsularly. Twenty-five percent of the capsules were calcified, demonstrating visible plaques of calcification on their inner surface. Forty-two percent were colonized by bacteria. The prevalence of class III-IV capsular contracture was 61% and it was related to implant location, duration in situ, and capsular calcification (p < 0.05), but not to capsular colonization or implant integrity (p > 0.05). Only 43 of the 100 patients elected to have saline implants inserted. Of the others, 56% felt that the shell of the saline implant could be associated with medical problems. The others felt that breast size was of minor importance to them at this time. There were few complications from the explantation procedure. Two "masses" were discovered-one was an occult carcinoma, the other a galactocele. There was one wound infection, which responded to antibiotics. Three patients developed decreased sensitivity and 3 developed increased breast pain. From the patient questionnaires, in those women who did not have saline implants inserted, 15% felt that their breast appearance was improved after explantation, 36% were "pleased," 33% were disappointed, and 13% felt "mutilated". In women who did have saline implants inserted, 18% felt that their breast appearance was now improved, 60% were "pleased," and 14% were disappointed, mainly because of wrinkling. At a mean time of 2.7 years (range, 1-5 years) after explantation, 45% of the 75 questionnaire respondees felt that their implants had caused permanent health problems and 56% felt that they had not been given adequate informed consent by their original surgeon (particularly regarding implant rupture and a possible relationship to medical disease). (ABSTRACT TRUNCATED)

Magnetic resonance imaging: a useful technique in the diagnosis and follow up of focal myositis

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Relationship of the dose of intravenous gammaglobulin to the prevention of infections in adults with common variable immunodeficiency

The objective was to assess clinical efficacy of 3 dosages of intravenous gammaglobulins to prevent infectious episodes in adult common variable immunodeficiency. We designed a randomized, double blind, dose-assessing study. The setting was at University Hospital, Out-patient Clinic. Our patients were twenty-one adult patients with common variable immunodeficiency. The measurements were comparative study of the number and severity of infections using 3 various dosages of intravenous gammaglobulins, each given monthly for M least 6 months. Results indicated four hundred and eighty-four infectious episodes occurred while giving 305 infusions of IVIG 200 mg/kg; 205 infectious episodes while giving 170 infusions of 400 mg/kg and 436 infectious episodes while giving 247 infusions of 600 mg/kg. The morbidity scores (infection/infusion) were 1.59, 1.21 and 1.77 respectively (p - N/S). There was no significant difference in the severity of infections on the above 3 dosages, and no difference in the duration of infection-free intervals. The conclusions resulted in no significant differences in morbidity in adult patients with common variable immunodeficiency treated in cross-over pattern with IVIG 200 mg/kg, 400 mg/kg and 600 mg/kg. Thus, high dosages of IVIG are not conferring better protection against infections in such patients.

New stone formation: a comparison of extracorporeal shock wave lithotripsy and percutaneous nephrolithotomy

PURPOSE

There is theoretical concern that stone recurrence rates may be higher following extracorporeal shock wave lithotripsy (ESWL) compared to other techniques because of residual stone debris.

MATERIALS AND METHODS

We documented all new stone formations in 298 consecutive patients who initially achieved a stone-free status following ESWL for renal calculi less that 2 cm in largest dimension, and compared the findings to those of 62 patients treated with percutaneous nephrolithotomy without ultrasonic fragmentation. Stone-free status was assessed by a centrally reviewed plain abdominal film and renal tomograms at 3 months. A plain abdominal film was repeated at 12 and 24 months to detect recurrence.

RESULTS

New stones formed in 22.2% of patients after ESWL and 4.2% after percutaneous nephrolithotomy at 1 year (p = 0.004), and in 34.8% versus 22.6%, respectively, at 2 years (p =0.190). Furthermore, more new stones recurred in the lower and mid calices compared to baseline location in the ESWL group (chi-square <0.0001), which was not observed in the percutaneous nephrolithotomy group.

CONCLUSIONS

Our data support a trend toward higher stone recurrence rates in ESWL treated patients, which may be due to microscopic sand particles migrating to dependent calices and acting as a nidus for new stone formation.

Prognostic indicators of joint destruction in systemic-onset juvenile rheumatoid arthritis

We retrospectively reviewed the charts and radiographs of 38 patients with systemic-onset juvenile rheumatoid arthritis, attempting to identify early in the disease course the clinical and laboratory observations most predictive of the later development of destructive arthritis. In 12 of the patients, destructive arthritis developed within 2 years of disease onset. When first examined, these patients could not readily be differentiated from those in whom joint destruction did not develop, but they more commonly had hepatosplenomegaly (p less than 0.04), serositis (p less than 0.01), and a lower mean serum albumin concentration (26.7 vs 31.3 gm/L; p less than 0.02). However, by 6 months after onset, patients with destructive arthritis more frequently had persistent systemic symptoms (92% vs 12%; p less than 0.0001), polyarthritis (67% vs 19%; p less than 0.0005), a lower mean hemoglobin level (95 vs 114 gm/L; p less than 0.001), a higher mean leukocyte count (21.2 vs 10 x 10(9)/L; p less than 0.0003), a higher mean platelet count (794 vs 400 x 10(9)/L; p less than 0.0001), and a higher mean erythrocyte sedimentation rate (43 vs 24 mm/hr; p less than 0.05). Multivariate analysis of the results at 6 months revealed that persistent systemic symptoms and a platelet count greater than or equal to 600 x 10(9)/L were the variables most highly predictive of the later development of joint destruction. We conclude that patients at high risk for the development of destructive arthritis may be identified within 6 months of disease onset, thereby indicating the need for more aggressive early therapy.