1.
Different treatment options for Takayasu arteritis patients with moderate-to-severe aortic regurgitation: long-term outcomes.
Cheng, X, Li, Z, Dang, A, Lv, N, Chang, Q, Song, Y, Liu, G
Rheumatology (Oxford, England). 2021;(7):3134-3143
Abstract
OBJECTIVES To determine the prognosis of Takayasu arteritis (TA) patients with moderate-to-severe aortic regurgitation treated with surgical vs conservative treatment and to identify independent prognostic factors of long-term outcomes. METHODS Between January 2002 and January 2017, 101 consecutive TA patients with moderate-to-severe aortic regurgitation treated with either surgical (n = 38) or conservative (n = 63) treatments were investigated in this retrospective observational case-control study. The primary end point was all-cause mortality, and the secondary end point comprised the combined end points of death, non-fatal stroke and cardiac events (non-fatal myocardial infarction and congestive heart failure). Propensity score matching was used to reduce the bias of baseline risk factors. RESULTS The unadjusted all-cause 10-year mortality in the conservative group was increased compared with the surgical group (28.2% vs 7.4%; log-rank P = 0.036), and the combined end points showed the same trend (52.1% vs 25.3%; log-rank P = 0.005). After an adjustment of baseline risk factors, the conservative treatment was associated with reduced survival rates of both all-cause mortality [hazard ratio (HR): 8.243; 95% CI: 1.069, 63.552; P = 0.007] and combined end points (HR: 6.341; 95% CI: 1.469, 27.375; P = 0.002). Conservative treatment (HR: 3.838, 95% CI: 1.333, 11.053; P = 0.013) and left ventricular end-diastolic diameter (HR: 1.036, 95% CI: 1.001, 1.071; P = 0.042) were risk factors for increased combined end points. CONCLUSION Surgical treatment improves the outcomes of patients with moderate-to-severe aortic regurgitation due to TA. The dilated left ventricle indicated a worse prognosis.
2.
Azathioprine-induced pellagra in neuromyelitis optica: A case report and review of literature.
Zhao, C, Liu, T, Ma, C, Li, H, Li, Z, Guo, J
Multiple sclerosis and related disorders. 2018;:104-107
Abstract
Neuromyelitis optica (NMO), also known as Devic's disease, is a classical autoimmune disorder of the central nervous system (CNS). The relapsing-remitting disease course contributes to application of a variety of immunosuppressants to prevent further relapses after high-dose methylprednisolone pulse therapy for acute attacks. Azathioprine is one of the most widely used immunosuppressive drugs during the remission stage of NMO due to its good efficacy and favorable side-effect profile. Even if, enough attention should be paid to some rare but devastating adverse events, such as pellagra. Herein, we reported that a well-nourished patient experienced serious pellagra while receiving oral azathioprine for treating her NMO. Moreover, literature on azathioprine-induced pellagra was reviewed to raise concerns regarding patient safety.
3.
Outcomes of tacrolimus therapy in adults with refractory membranous nephrotic syndrome: a prospective, multicenter clinical trial.
Chen, W, Liu, Q, Liao, Y, Yang, Z, Chen, J, Fu, J, Zhang, J, Kong, Y, Fu, P, Lou, T, et al
The American journal of the medical sciences. 2013;(2):81-7
Abstract
INTRODUCTION The treatment of adult refractory idiopathic membranous nephropathy with steroid and other immunosuppressant-resistant nephrotic syndrome can be a significant challenge. The authors investigated the efficacy and safety of tacrolimus (TAC) as a promising regimen. METHODS A prospective, multicenter trial was conducted in 9 nephrology centers from 2006 to 2008. Fourteen patients were enrolled. In conjunction with prednisone, TAC was started at 0.05 mg/kg/d, titrated to achieve a trough blood level of 5 to 10 ng/mL for the first 6 months, then reduced to 4 to 6 ng/mL for the subsequent 6 months. The primary endpoints included complete or partial remission. Secondary endpoints included relapse, change of clinical parameters and adverse events. RESULTS After 12 months, complete remission was achieved in 35.7% of patients and partial remission in 42.9%, yielding a response rate of 78.6%. Proteinuria, serum albumin, cholesterol, triglyceride and low-density lipoprotein were improved significantly (P < 0.001, P < 0.001, P = 0.002, P = 0.01, P = 0.004, respectively). Proteinuria and serum albumin were significantly improved (42.0% ± 13.2%, P = 0.02; 15.2% ± 4.5%, P = 0.01, respectively) even after the first month of treatment. One patient relapsed during the subsequent 6 months of follow-up. Adverse events included 2 cases of infection and 1 case each of hyperglycemia, hand tremor, sudden death (nondrug related) and diarrhea. CONCLUSIONS TAC plus prednisone may be an alternative therapeutic option for steroid and general immunosuppressant-resistant membranous nephrotic syndrome patients, with a favorable safety profile. However, given the limitation of a small number of patients in this trial, further study with a larger number and longer follow-up is needed.