Clinical and serological expressions of SLE among patients from Republic of Moldova and India

Abstract

Introduction. Systemic lupus erythematosus (SLE) is a chronic autoimmune disease that may affect all systems and presents with a broad spectrum of immune abnormalities. The skin is the second organ in terms of frequency of damage and may precede classical systemic manifestations. The correlation between systemic manifestations and immunological profile is known, but the interaction between antibodies and skin disorders is a discussed and dependent on genetic and racial attribution. Aim of study. The present study aims to evaluate skin lesions and their correlation with systemic manifestations and serological profile in SLE in patients from the Republic of Moldova and India. Methods and materials. A total of 40 patients diagnosed with SLE were recruited, who meet the criteria of the International Clinics for Collaboration with Systemic Lupus (SLICC) (2012), which are registered in the Department of Rheumatology of the Republican Clinical Hospital "Timofei Mosneaga". Demographic details, assessment of skin lesions and systemic examination and serological profile tests were noted. The epidemiological study of patients in India was used as a reference (Systemic Lupus Erythematosus in India: A Clinico-Serological Correlation, Rachita Mathur, Kirti Deo, Aishwarya Raheja) Results. Common specific lesions were malar rash (90% in Republic of Moldova and 77.5% in India, p<0.05), photosensitivity (77.5% vs 70%, p<0.05) and generalized maculopapular rash (22.5% vs 20%, p>0.05). Nonspecific lesions were alopecia without scars (40% vs 60%, p<0.05), oral ulcers (20% vs 45%, p<0.05) and vasculitis (40% vs 12.5%, p<0.01). Arthritis (72.5% vs 77.5%, p>0.05) and nephritis (30% vs 30%, p>0.05) were common systemic findings. According to the results of serological analyzes, all patients had antinuclear antibodies (ANA) and antidsDNA), anti-Smith (52.5% vs 70%, p<0.01) and anti-RO/SSA (60% vs 47.5%) antibodies in serum. Conclusion. Following the study, we found that in patients with SLE in the Republic of Moldova, skin rashes are determined more frequently, compared to patients from India, but without difference in generalized maculopapular rashes. Such changes as alopecia and oral ulcers were found significantly less frequently compared to patients from India, with the exception of vasculitis. No differences were determined in arthritis and nephritis, with an equal weight in the presence of specific antibodies (ANA and anti-dsDNA), but more frequently in anti-RO/SSA in serum. affect all systems and presents with a broad spectrum o f immune abnormalities. The skin is the second organ in terms of frequency of damage and may precede classical systemic manifestations. The correlation between systemic manifestations and immun ological profile is known, but the interaction between antibodies and skin disorders is a discussed and dependent on genetic and racial attribution. Aim of study. The present study aims to evaluate skin lesions and their correlation with systemic manifestations and serological profile in SLE in patients from the Republic of Moldova and India. Methods and materials. A total of 40 patients diagnosed with SLE were recruited, wh o meet the criteria of the International Clinics for Collaborati on with Systemic Lupus (SLICC) (2012), which are registered in the Department of Rheumatology of the Republican Clinical Hospital "Timofei Mosneaga". Demographic details, assessment of skin lesion s and systemic examination and serological profile tests were noted. The epidemiological study of patients in India was used as a reference (Systemic Lupus Erythematosus in India: A Cli nico-Serological Correlation, Rachita Mathur, Kirti Deo, Aishwarya Raheja) Results. Common specific lesions were malar rash (90% in Republic o f Moldova and 77.5% in India, p<0.05), photosensitivity (77.5% vs 70%, p<0.05) and generaliz ed maculopapular rash (22.5% vs 20%, p>0.05). Nonspecific lesions were alopecia without scars (40% vs 60%, p<0.05), oral ulcers (20% vs 45%, p<0.05) and vasculitis (40% vs 12.5%, p<0 .01). Arthritis (72.5% vs 77.5%, p>0.05) and nephritis (30% vs 30%, p>0.05) were common syste mic findings. According to the results of serological analyzes, all patients ha d antinuclear antibodies (ANA) and antidsDNA), anti-Smith (52.5% vs 70%, p<0.01) and anti-RO/SSA (60% vs 47.5%) antibodies in serum. Conclusion. Following the study, we found that in patients with SLE in the Republic of Moldova, skin rashes are determined more frequently, compared to patien ts from India, but without difference in generalized maculopapular rashes. Such change s as alopecia and oral ulcers were found significantly less frequently compared to patients fro m India, with the exception of vasculitis. No differences were determined in arthritis and n ephritis, with an equal weight in the presence of specific antibodies (ANA and anti-dsDNA), but m ore frequently in anti-RO/SSA in serum.