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Systemic lupus erythematosus in three ethnic groups: XVI. Association of hydroxychloroguine use with reduced risk of damage accrual.
Fessler BJ et al. LUMINA study group. Arhtritis Rheum 2005 May; 52 (5):1473
Authors studied 518 SLE patients who had less than 5 years disease duration and followed them annually. They measured disease activity, clinical, serological, socio-economic, and demographic manifestations. 56% of patients were treated with hydroxychloroguine at the beginning of the study.
Patients who were not on hydroxychloroquine were more likely to have major organ involvement such as kidney or central nervous system ones. The results of the unadjusted and adjusted analyses showed that in patients without damage and receiving hydroxychloroquine at the study entry the use of hydroxychloroquine was associated with a reduced risk of damage accrual.
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The early protective effect of hydroxychloroquine on the risk of cumulative damage in patients with systemic lupus erythematosus.
Akhavan PS, Su J, Lou W, Gladman DD, Urowitz MB, Fortin PR. J Rheumatol 2013 Jun; 40(6): 831.
The authors included in the study 481 patients who had more than 3 years of follow up. They chose 151 patients as cases with SLE Collaborating Clinics Damage Index (SDI) > 3 at 3 years and 151 patients with SDI=0 at 3 years as controls.
For the analysis they used such information as age, use of immunosuppressive drugs, hydroxychloroquine and cumulative dose of steroids.
The use of hydroxychloroquine was associated with significantly less damage at 3 years.
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The role of exercise in the rehabilitation of patients with systemic lupus erythematosus and patients with primary Sjogren’s syndrome.
Strombeck B, Jacobson LT. Curr Opin in Rheumatol. 2007 Jul; 19(4):403.
The authors presented the update on the evidence-based effects of exercise in SLE and Sjogren’s syndrome.
The available studies indicate that patients with SLE of mild to moderate disease activity and patients with Sjogren’s syndrome benefit from moderate to high intensity exercise. The positive effects were seen on the aerobic capacity, fatigue, depression and physical function.
