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Biomedical subjects

A Grayzel

Publications and source records attributed to A Grayzel.

4 recordsLinked to original sources

Antibodies elicited by pneumococcal antigens bear an anti-DNA--associated idiotype.

There is evidence in both murine and human lupus that the production of anti-DNA antibodies may be triggered by environmental antigens. To explore this further, we studied the serum of 10 nonautoimmune individuals immunized with a polyvalent pneumococcal polysaccharide vaccine. All 10 patients showed a rise in the titer of antipneumococcal antibodies bearing an anti-DNA-associated idiotype. The antipneumococcal response was specific as no idiotypic antitetanus antibodies were detected. Furthermore, no anti-DNA antibodies were present in postvaccination sera. The molecular analysis of antipneumococcal and anti-DNA antibodies bearing a common idiotype will help elucidate how foreign antigen might lead to the production of anti-DNA antibodies in susceptible individuals.

Antibodies, Antinuclear↗

Serial pulmonary function testing in patients with systemic lupus erythematosus.

Previous studies have documented the pulmonary function abnormalities associated with systemic lupus erythematosus (SLE). There are very few data, however, regarding the progression of such changes. To study this question, we evaluated the pulmonary function of a group of 25 patients with SLE from two to seven years after a set of pulmonary function tests had been performed as part of their overall initial assessment. Reductions in diffusing capacity, FVC, and total lung capacity did not change significantly for the group over the period of our study. The mean FEF25-75%, which was initially low, and the mean FEV1/FVC ratio, which was initially normal, both decreased significantly. The observed abnormalities in airway function were not related to smoking history. Other aspects of lupus activity, as measured by serum creatinine levels and clinical activity, did not appear related to progression of lung disease.

Adult↗

A multicenter study of outcome in systemic lupus erythematosus. I. Entry variables as predictors of prognosis.

A retrospective study of factors influencing survival in 1,103 patients with systemic lupus erythematosus (SLE) was carried out at 9 university centers diverse in geographic, socioeconomic, and racial characteristics. The mortality and disease characteristics of the patients at study entry varied widely among centers. The survival rates from the time patients with a diagnosis of SLE were first evaluated at the participating center was 90% at 1 year, 77% at 5 years, and 71% at 10 years. Patients with a serum creatinine greater than 3 mg/dl at study entry had the lowest survival rates: 48%, 29%, and 12% at 1, 5, and 10 years, respectively. Survival rate also correlated independently with the entry hematocrit, degree of proteinuria, number of preliminary American Rheumatism Association criteria for SLE satisfied, and source of funding of medical care. When data were corrected for socioeconomic status, race/ethnic origin did not significantly influence survival. Survival rates varied widely at different participating institutions, generally due to differences in disease severity. Place of treatment was independently associated with survival only in the second year after study entry. Disease duration before study entry did not account for the differences in disease severity.

Academic Medical Centers↗

A multicenter study of outcome in systemic lupus erythematosus. II. Causes of death.

Causes of death were examined for 1,103 systemic lupus erythematosus patients who were followed from 1965 to 1978 at 9 centers that participated in the Lupus Survival Study Group. A total of 222 patients (20%) died. Lupus-related organ system involvement (mainly active nephritis) and infection were the most frequent primary causes of death. Causes of death were similar throughout the followup period. Hemodialysis had little impact on the length of survival for patients with nephritis. Active central nervous system disease and myocardial infarction were infrequent causes of death. There were no deaths from malignancy.

Academic Medical Centers↗