Medha Barbhaiya

Racial/Ethnic Variation in All‐Cause Mortality Among United States Medicaid Recipients With Systemic Lupus Erythematosus: A Hispanic and Asian Paradox

The incidence of systemic lupus erythematosus (SLE) is disproportionately high in nonwhite patients compared with white patients. However, variation in mortality according to race/ethnicity has not been well studied. The aim of this study was to examine all‐cause mortality according to race/ethnicity among SLE patients enrolled in Medicaid.

Primary Thrombosis Prophylaxis in Antiphospholipid Antibody–Positive Patients: Where Do We Stand?

Persistently positive antiphospholipid antibodies (aPLs) with thrombosis and/or pregnancy morbidity are the hallmark of the antiphospholipid syndrome. However, aPL-positive patients with no prior history of thrombosis exist. On the basis of a limited number of studies that predominantly included systemic lupus erythematosus patients, aPL-positive patients without previous thrombosis have a 0% to 3.8% annual incident thrombosis risk. Given that every positive aPL test is not clinically significant and every aPL-positive patient does not have the same thrombosis risk, risk stratification (based on aPL profile, age, systemic autoimmune diseases, and traditional cardiovascular disease or venous thrombosis risk factors) is crucial to determine the first thrombosis risk in aPL-positive patients. The optimal primary thrombosis prevention strategy in patients with clinically significant aPL profiles should include 1) regular monitoring and elimination of non-aPL thrombosis risk factors, 2) aggressive management of clinical and subclinical systemic autoimmune disease activity, and 3) patient counseling and education. The protective effect of low-dose aspirin against incident thrombosis in patients with clinically significant aPL profiles is not supported by randomized controlled data; general population cardiovascular disease risk prediction tools and prevention guidelines formulated based on risk–benefit calculations should play a role in the decision whether to recommend low-dose aspirin. The effectiveness of hydroxychloroquine, statins, or their combination remains to be determined by well-designed randomized controlled trials.

Ultraviolet radiation and systemic lupus erythematosus

Exposure to ultraviolet (UV) radiation is among the environmental factors that have been proposed and studied in association with systemic lupus erythematosus (SLE). While it is known that UV radiation exposure may exacerbate pre-existing lupus, it remains unclear whether UV exposure is a risk factor for the development of SLE. Experimental studies show a significant immunomodulatory role for UV radiation, but strong epidemiologic data regarding its role in triggering SLE onset are lacking. Further studies are needed to assess the role of UV radiation in relation to development of incident SLE, yet they are challenging to design due to difficulties in accurate exposure assessment, the heterogeneous nature of SLE, and the challenge of assessing photosensitivity, a feature of SLE, which often precedes its diagnosis.

Rheumatoid arthritis and cardiovascular disease: an update on treatment issues.

Purpose of reviewThis review examines thresholds for treatment of traditional cardiovascular disease (CVD) risk factors among patients with rheumatoid arthritis (RA) and whether RA-specific treatment modulates cardiovascular risk. Recent findingsThere are substantial data demonstrating an increased CVD risk among patients with RA. Both traditional CVD risk factors and inflammation contribute to this risk. Recent epidemiologic studies strengthen the case that aggressive immunosuppression with biologic disease-modifying anti-rheumatic drugs (DMARDs), such as tumour necrosis factor (TNF) antagonists, is associated with a reduced risk of CVD events. However, to date, there are no randomized controlled trials published regarding the management of CVD in RA. SummaryEpidemiologic evidence continues to accumulate regarding the relationship between the effects of traditional CVD risk factors and RA-specific treatments on cardiovascular outcomes in RA. The field needs randomized controlled trials to better guide management.

Evaluation and management of systemic lupus erythematosus and rheumatoid arthritis during pregnancy

Women of childbearing age are at risk for developing systemic rheumatic diseases. Pregnancy can be challenging to manage in patients with rheumatic diseases for a variety of reasons including the impact of physiological and immunological changes of pregnancy on underlying disease activity, the varied presentation of rheumatic disease during pregnancy, and the limited treatment options. Previously, patients with rheumatic disease were often advised against pregnancy due to concerns of increased maternal and fetal morbidity and mortality. However, recent advancements in the understanding of the interaction between pregnancy and rheumatic disease have changed how we counsel patients. Patients with rheumatic disease can have successful pregnancy outcomes, particularly when a collaborative approach between the rheumatologist and obstetrician is applied. This review aims to discuss the effect of pregnancy on patients with the most common rheumatic diseases, the effect of these diseases on the pregnancy itself, and the management of these patients during pregnancy.

Environmental exposures and the development of systemic lupus erythematosus.

Purpose of reviewThis review examines evidence relating environmental factors to the development of systemic lupus erythematosus (SLE). Recent findingsThe strongest epidemiologic evidence exists for the associations of silica, cigarette smoking, oral contraceptives, postmenopausal hormone therapy and endometriosis, with SLE incidence. Recent studies have also provided robust evidence of the association between alcohol consumption and decreased SLE risk. There are preliminary, conflicting or unsubstantiated data that other factors, including air pollution, ultraviolet light, infections, vaccinations, solvents, pesticides and heavy metals such as mercury, are related to SLE risk. Biologic mechanisms linking environmental exposures and SLE risk include increased oxidative stress, systemic inflammation and inflammatory cytokine upregulation, and hormonal triggers, as well as epigenetic modifications resulting from exposure that could lead to SLE. SummaryIdentifying the environmental risk factors related to risk of SLE is essential as it will lead to increased understanding of pathogenesis of this complex disease and will also make risk factor modification possible for those at increased risk.

Cigarette smoking and the risk of systemic lupus erythematosus, overall and by anti-double stranded DNA antibody subtype, in the Nurses’ Health Study cohorts

Objectives Systemic lupus erythematosus (SLE) is a heterogeneous autoimmune disease, subtyped according to clinical manifestations and autoantibodies. Evidence concerning cigarette smoking and SLE risk has been conflicting. We investigated smoking and SLE risk, overall and by anti-double stranded DNA (dsDNA) presence, in two prospective cohort studies. Methods The Nurses’ Health Study (NHS) enrolled 121 701 US female nurses in 1976; Nurses’ Health Study II (NHSII) enrolled 116 430 in 1989. Lifestyle, environmental and medical data were collected through biennial questionnaires. Incident SLE was confirmed by medical record review. Cox regression models estimated HRs of SLE, overall and by dsDNA subtype, in association with time-varying smoking status and cumulative smoking pack-years through the 2-year cycle prior to diagnosis, controlling for potential confounders. Results Among 286 SLE cases identified (159 in NHS (1978–2012) and 127 in NHSII (1991–2013)), mean age was 49.2 (10.3) years and 42% were dsDNA+ at SLE diagnosis. At baseline, 45% of women had ever smoked, 51% of whom currently smoked. Compared with never smokers, current smokers had increased dsDNA+ SLE risk (HR 1.86 (1.14–3.04)), whereas past smokers did not (HR 1.31 (0.85–2.00)). Women who smoked >10 pack-years (vs never) had an elevated dsDNA+ SLE risk (HR 1.60(95% CI 1.04 to 2.45)) compared with never smokers. No associations were observed between smoking status or pack-years and overall SLE or dsDNA− SLE. Conclusion Strong and specific associations of current smoking and >10 pack-years of smoking with dsDNA+ SLE were observed. This novel finding suggests smoking is involved in dsDNA+ SLE pathogenesis.

Influence of Alcohol Consumption on the Risk of Systemic Lupus Erythematosus Among Women in the Nurses’ Health Study Cohorts

Moderate alcohol consumption has antiinflammatory properties and is associated with reduced cardiovascular disease and rheumatoid arthritis risks. We investigated the association between alcohol consumption and systemic lupus erythematosus (SLE) risk among women followed in the Nurses’ Health Study (NHS) cohorts.

Race/Ethnicity and Cardiovascular Events Among Patients With Systemic Lupus Erythematosus

Systemic lupus erythematosus (SLE) is more prevalent and results in more severe outcomes among blacks, Asians, and Hispanics than among whites. Cardiovascular disease (CVD) is the leading cause of death among SLE patients. We undertook this study to examine racial/ethnic variations in risk of CVD events among SLE patients.

AntiPhospholipid Syndrome Alliance for Clinical Trials and InternatiOnal Networking (APS ACTION): 5-Year Update

Antiphospholipid Syndrome Alliance for Clinical Trials and International Networking (APS ACTION) is the first-ever international network created to design and conduct large-scale, multicenter clinical trials and research in persistently antiphospholipid antibody (aPL)-positive patients. Since its inception in 2010, the APS ACTION has made important strides toward our goal of international research collaboration and data sharing. Through the dedication and hard work of 50 APS ACTION members, collaborative international projects are currently underway including a multicenter web-based registry and repository of aPL-positive patients, a randomized controlled clinical trial assessing the efficacy of hydroxychloroquine for primary thrombosis prevention in persistently aPL-positive but thrombosis-free patients, standardization of aPL testing through the use of core laboratories worldwide, identification of the limitations in the existing aPL/APS literature, and conducting observational research studies to further our understanding of the disease. Thus far, APS ACTION has held annual workshops and summits with the aim of facilitating international collaboration and developing initiatives to recruit young scholars to APS research. This paper describes updates related to the organization’s structure, ongoing research efforts, and recent accomplishments and discusses future directions.