Odirlei André Monticielo

Mannose-binding lectin gene polymorphisms in Brazilian patients with systemic lupus erythematosus

The mannose-binding lectin gene (MBL-2) has emerged as a candidate for systemic lupus erythematosus susceptibility, but studies in Brazilian population have not been conducted. To examine potential associations of mannose-binding lectin alleles G57E, G54D, IVSnt5, R52C and R52H with susceptibility to and clinical expression of systemic lupus erythematosus in southern Brazilian patients, we conducted a case—control study with 327 consecutive patients with diagnosis of systemic lupus erythematosus and 345 healthy controls. Genotyping was performed by restriction fragment length polymorphism—polymerase chain reaction assay. A statistically significant difference in the frequencies of allele R52C was observed in European-derived systemic lupus erythematosus patients when compared with controls (9.6% vs. 3.3%, p < 0.001, odds ratio: 3.15, 95% confidence interval: 1.76—5.62, p < 0.05). The frequencies of alleles G54D and G57E were not different between European-derived systemic lupus erythematosus patients and controls. There were no differences between clinical and laboratory features in systemic lupus erythematosus patients according to the presence or absence of mannose-binding lectin allelic variants. These results support an increased risk of systemic lupus erythematosus in European-derived individuals carrying allele R52C. Patients carrying this allele have an approximately three-fold higher odds ratio of developing systemic lupus erythematosus when compared with controls. Our data do not support associations between the mannose-binding lectin allelic variants studied and clinical expression of systemic lupus erythematosus. Lupus (2010) 19, 280—287.

Osteopoikilosis: what does the rheumatologist must know about it?

Osteopoikilosis (OPK) is a rare, benign, and asymptomatic bone dysplasia that is developed during childhood and persists throughout life. This condition is generally found incidentally on plain radiographies made by other reasons. The main differential diagnosis is osteoblastic metastasis. So, OPK must be in differential diagnosis when bone lesions are identified on plain radiograph to avoid alarming the patient with more serious disease and misdiagnosis. In this paper, we review the clinical manifestation, pathophysiology, diagnosis, and treatment of OPK.

Paquidermoperiostose associada à neoplasia gástrica

1 Acadêmicos do Curso de Medicina da Universidade Federal de Santa Maria – UFSM, Santa Maria, RS 2 Especialista em Reumatologia; Professor assistente da disciplina de Reumatologia do Departamento de Medicina Interna da UFSM, Santa Maria,RS 3 Mestrado em Clínica Médica pela Universidade Federal do Rio Grande do Sul UFRGS; Professor-assistente da disciplina de Reumatologia do Departamento de Medicina Interna da UFSM, Santa Maria, RS

Pachydermoperiostosis associated with gastric neoplasia

, among others.More than 20% of the patients with PDP have hyper-trophic gastritis or gastric ulcer and some of them have high pepsinogen levels. Other diseases of the gastric sys-tem can be considered occasional associations, such as gastric polyposis, Crohn’s disease and protein-losing en-teropathy