RESUMO
Vitamin D has important effects on the immune system as it has been shown to exert antiproliferative and relative immunosuppressant effects. Low levels of this hormone may contribute to the immune activation in systemic lupus erythematosus (SLE) and other autoimmune diseases. Serum levels of 25-OH vitamin D were measured in 75 patients with SLE in Jamaica, using an enzyme-linked immunoassay. Correlations with clinical data and disease activity as determined by the BILAG index were determined. Of a total of 75 patients, 33 (44%) had vitamin D sufficiency with mean vitamin D level of 39.45 ng/ml (range, 30.35-58.16). Forty-two (56%) patients had either vitamin D deficiency or insufficiency, 30 (40%) had vitamin D insufficiency, mean 26.36 ng/ml (range, 20.26-29.88), and 12 (16%) had vitamin D deficiency, mean 16.07 ng/ml (range, 7.78-19.90). There was an overall negative relationship between the total disease activity score using the BILAG index and vitamin D levels, and this was influenced primarily by the relationship seen among the vitamin D-deficient subgroup. This was also impacted on by a patient population that was significantly skewed toward low disease activity. The negative association trended toward statistical significance. Vitamin D deficiency is prevalent among patients with SLE in Jamaica. A relationship between low serum levels of vitamin D and SLE activity may occur.
Assuntos
Lúpus Eritematoso Sistêmico/sangue , Deficiência de Vitamina D/sangue , Vitamina D/análogos & derivados , Adolescente , Adulto , Idoso , Biomarcadores/sangue , Criança , Feminino , Hospitais Universitários , Humanos , Jamaica/epidemiologia , Lúpus Eritematoso Sistêmico/diagnóstico , Lúpus Eritematoso Sistêmico/epidemiologia , Masculino , Pessoa de Meia-Idade , Prevalência , Índice de Gravidade de Doença , Vitamina D/sangue , Deficiência de Vitamina D/diagnóstico , Deficiência de Vitamina D/epidemiologia , Adulto JovemRESUMO
We describe two cases of lateral medullary syndrome at the University Hospital of the West Indies, Mona, Jamaica. This diagnosis is often missed and not well understood, so we will discuss the underlying pathophysiology.
Se describen dos casos de síndrome medular lateral en el Hospital Universitario de West Indies, Mona, Jamaica. Este diagnóstico pasa a menudo inadvertido y no es bien entendido. Por esa razón se discute aquí la patofisiología subyacente.
Assuntos
Humanos , Masculino , Pessoa de Meia-Idade , Síndrome Medular Lateral/diagnóstico , Jamaica , Síndrome Medular Lateral/fisiopatologia , Imageamento por Ressonância MagnéticaRESUMO
We describe two cases of lateral medullary syndrome at the University Hospital of the West Indies, Mona, Jamaica. This diagnosis is often missed and not well understood, so we will discuss the underlying pathophysiology.