RESUMO
Myasthenia gravis (MG) is an autoimmune disease that affects the postsynaptic membrane at the neuromuscular junction. In MG, antibodies bind to acetylcholine receptors inducing muscle weakness. The weakness typically increases with exercise and repetitive muscle use. Improvement of muscular weakness after rest and/or administration of anticholinesterase drugs (edrophonium) are characteristic of MG. We report a patient with unexplained dysphagia, dysphonia, and dysarthria, whose diagnosis was suggested by high-resolution esophageal motility and edrophonium infusion. We highlight the importance of dysphagia as presenting or dominant symptom in MG and review the esophageal motility findings in this rare, but treatable disorder.
RESUMO
BACKGROUND: Only a few biomarkers are available for assessing disease activity in systemic lupus erythematosus (SLE). Mean platelet volume (MPV) has been recently studied as an inflammatory biomarker. It is currently unclear whether MPV may also play a role as a biomarker of disease activity in adult patients with SLE. OBJECTIVE: We investigated the association between MPV and disease activity in adult patients with SLE. METHODS: In this retrospective study, we compared two groups of adult patients divided according to disease activity (36 per group). Subjects were age- and gender-matched. RESULTS: MPV was significantly decreased with respect to those of inactive patients (7.16±1.39 vs. 8.16±1.50, p=0.005). At a cutoff level of 8.32fL, MPV has a sensitivity of 86% and a specificity of 41% for the detection of disease activity. A modest positive correlation was found between MPV and albumin (r=0.407, p=0.001), which in turn is inversely associated with disease activity. CONCLUSIONS: In summary, MPV is decreased in adult patients with active lupus disease, and positively correlated with albumin, another biomarker of disease activity. Prospective studies are needed to evaluate the prognostic value of this biomarker.
Assuntos
Plaquetas/citologia , Lúpus Eritematoso Sistêmico/sangue , Volume Plaquetário Médio , Adulto , Humanos , Ativação Plaquetária , Estudos Prospectivos , Estudos RetrospectivosRESUMO
ABSTRACT Background: Only a few biomarkers are available for assessing disease activity in systemic lupus erythematosus (SLE). Mean platelet volume (MPV) has been recently studied as an inflammatory biomarker. It is currently unclear whether MPV may also play a role as a biomarker of disease activity in adult patients with SLE. Objective: We investigated the association between MPV and disease activity in adult patients with SLE. Methods: In this retrospective study, we compared two groups of adult patients divided according to disease activity (36 per group). Subjects were age- and gender-matched. Results: MPV was significantly decreased with respect to those of inactive patients (7.16 ± 1.39 vs. 8.16 ± 1.50, p = 0.005). At a cutoff level of 8.32 fL, MPV has a sensitivity of 86% and a specificity of 41% for the detection of disease activity. A modest positive correlation was found between MPV and albumin (r = 0.407, p = 0.001), which in turn is inversely associated with disease activity. Conclusions: In summary, MPV is decreased in adult patients with active lupus disease, and positively correlated with albumin, another biomarker of disease activity. Prospective studies are needed to evaluate the prognostic value of this biomarker.
RESUMO Antecedentes: Existem poucos biomarcadores disponíveis para avaliar a atividade da doença no lúpus eritematoso sistêmico (LES). O volume plaquetário médio (VPM) foi recentemente estudado como um biomarcador inflamatório. Atualmente não está claro se o VPM também pode desempenhar um papel como um biomarcador da atividade da doença em pacientes adultos com LES. Objetivo: Investigou-se a associação entre o VPM e a atividade da doença em pacientes adultos com LES. Métodos: Neste estudo retrospectivo, compararam-se dois grupos de pacientes adultos divididos de acordo com a atividade da doença (36 por grupo). Os indivíduos foram pareados por idade e gênero. Resultados: O VPM esteve significativamente diminuído nos pacientes com doença ativa em comparação com os níveis em pacientes com doença inativa (7,16 ± 1,39 versus 8,16 ± 1,50, p = 0,005). Em um nível de corte de 8,32 fL, o VPM tem uma sensibilidade de 86% e uma especificidade de 41% para a detecção da atividade da doença. Encontrou-se uma correlação positiva modesta entre o VPM e a albumina (r = 0,407, p = 0,001), que por sua vez está inversamente associada à atividade da doença. Conclusões: Em resumo, o VPM está diminuído em pacientes adultos com lúpus ativo e positivamente correlacionado com a albumina, outro biomarcador da atividade da doença. São necessários estudos prospectivos para avaliar o valor prognóstico desse biomarcador.
Assuntos
Humanos , Adulto , Plaquetas/citologia , Volume Plaquetário Médio , Lúpus Eritematoso Sistêmico/sangue , Ativação Plaquetária , Estudos Prospectivos , Estudos RetrospectivosRESUMO
BACKGROUND: Only a few biomarkers are available for assessing disease activity in systemic lupus erythematosus (SLE). Mean platelet volume (MPV) has been recently studied as an inflammatory biomarker. It is currently unclear whether MPV may also play a role as a biomarker of disease activity in adult patients with SLE. OBJECTIVE: We investigated the association between MPV and disease activity in adult patients with SLE. METHODS: In this retrospective study, we compared two groups of adult patients divided according to disease activity (36 per group). Subjects were age- and gender-matched. RESULTS: MPV was significantly decreased with respect to those of inactive patients (7.16±1.39 vs. 8.16±1.50, p=0.005). At a cutoff level of 8.32 fL, MPV has a sensitivity of 86% and a specificity of 41% for the detection of disease activity. A modest positive correlation was found between MPV and albumin (r=0.407, p=0.001), which in turn is inversely associated with disease activity. CONCLUSIONS: In summary, MPV is decreased in adult patients with active lupus disease, and positively correlated with albumin, another biomarker of disease activity. Prospective studies are needed to evaluate the prognostic value of this biomarker.