Biomedical subjects

L S Assis

Publications and source records attributed to L S Assis.

2 recordsLinked to original sources

PubMedDate not supplied

Long-term thalidomide use in refractory cutaneous lesions of systemic lupus erythematosus.

OBJECTIVE: To evaluate the efficacy of long-term thalidomide treatment in cutaneous lesions of systemic lupus erythematosus (SLE), not responsive to conventional therapy. PATIENTS AND METHODS: Were selected 18 SLE patients (ACR criteria) with active cutaneous lesions not responsive to chloroquine, photoprotectors and low doses prednisone and who presented good response to thalidomide but relapsed after withdrawal of the drug. All female patients had no risk of pregnancy. Thalidomide was reintroduced and maintained at low dose (25-100 mg/day) for a minimum of 6 months. RESULTS: Eighteen patients (16 females) with mean age of 34.2 yo (16-57 y.o.) received thalidomide for 6-21 months (mean 8.5 m). The mean dose of prednisone at beginning of study was 38.3 mg/d and at the end was 9.7 mg/d (p < 0.05). Complete remission of cutaneous lesions was observed in thirteen patients (72%) and partial remission in five (28%). Side effects observed were: drowsiness in eight patients, intestinal constipation in 5, transient oliguria in 1, paresthesia of hand with normal electromyography in another one. All side effects disappeared with reduction of thalidomide dose and no patient needed to stop treatment owing to side effect. CONCLUSION: Thalidomide is a good alternative therapy to SLE patients with refractory cutaneous lesions and without any risk of pregnancy.

Adolescent↗

PubMedDate not supplied

[Study of bone density in systemic scleroderma].

BACKGROUND: Osteopenia in systemic sclerosis (scleroderma) patients was reported in X-ray studies of hands and by proximal and distal forearm bone mass measurement. It has been suggested that bone loss in these patients might be due to chronic ischemia, immobilization and early menopause. Nevertheless, it is not established if these patients present generalized osteopenia. To shed light into this point we studied bone mineral density in the spine, proximal femur and total body in patients with systemic sclerosis. PATIENTS AND METHOD: Twenty-five Caucasian women were evaluated. Mean age of patients was 48 +/- 12 years and mean time of disease was 7 +/- 7 years; 13 were postmenopausal (8 +/- 8 years). Bone mass was measured in the spine, proximal femur and total body by using a dual-photon absorptiometry with X rays source (Lunar-Model DPX). RESULTS: Bone mass in different sites was not statistically different from the age-matched control healthy women. Mean bone mass of patients with limited form was not different from patients with diffuse form of systemic sclerosis. Patients with calcinosis had lower bone mass at proximal femur than those without this alteration. CONCLUSIONS: Patients with systemic sclerosis do not present bone loss and this disease in not a risk factor for generalized osteoporosis.

Adult↗