Prevalence and expression of photosensitivity in systemic lupus erythematosus

Article Abstract:

Systemic lupus erythematosus (SLE), a long-term inflammatory disease of connective tissue, affects the skin, joints, kidneys, nervous system, and mucous membranes. Patients with SLE often have photosensitivity, or an increased sensitivity to sun exposure. Information about the prevalence of photosensitivity in SLE is not up to date and little is known about the nature of the photosensitivity reaction. The prevalence and nature of photosensitivity was evaluated by surveying 125 patients with SLE and 281 patients with rheumatoid arthritis (RA), an inflammatory joint disease characterized by stiffness, swelling, hypertrophy (enlargement) of cartilage tissue, and pain. Photosensitivity was reported by 87 of 119 patients with SLE and 62 of 269 patients with RA. Among 72 of 122 patients with SLE, photosensitivity affected the face, arms, chest, and neck. Patients with SLE reported that sun exposure worsened disease activity, with 41 of 118 patients requiring medical treatment for photosensitivity, and reporting that photosensitivity affected their life style. However, there was no difference in the severity of disease, as determined by physician or laboratory results, between patients reporting high or low photosensitivity. The increased awareness of potential ultraviolet damage due to sun exposure appears to cause significant changes in the lifestyles of patients with SLE. (Consumer Summary produced by Reliance Medical Information, Inc.)

Psychological aspects, Causes of, Complications and side effects, Photosensitivity disorders

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Expression of rheumatoid arthritis in two ethnic Jewish Israeli groups

Article Abstract:

There appear to be differences in rheumatoid arthritis (RA) disease severity among two ethnic populations in Israel. Researchers compared disease severity with ethnic origins (Sepharadic or Askenazi), educational levels, professional status, number of children, prescription drug use, and X-ray and laboratory findings of 167 Jewish patients with RA. Overall, the more educated and skilled patients reported fewer joint pain symptoms and functioned better on a daily basis. The Askenazi Jewish group (74) reported less pain and joint tenderness, were more educated, and had fewer children than the Sepharadic Jewish group (93). There were no significant differences in the X-ray or laboratory findings between these two ethnic groups. Sepharadic Jews with minimal education reported more joint pain symptoms and had more severe disease than the more highly educated Sepharadic Jews.

Health aspects, Genetic aspects, Rheumatoid arthritis, Disease susceptibility

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Expression of systemic lupus erythematosus in various ethnic Jewish Israeli groups

Article Abstract:

The development and progression of systemic lupus erythematosus (SLE) may be more severe among Israeli patients of Sephardic origin than those from other Jewish ethnic groups. SLE is a chronic inflammatory disease in which the body attacks its own tissues. Among 84 Israeli patients with SLE, 45 were of Sephardic origin and 39 were of Ashkenazi origin. Patients of Sephardic origin experienced more severe manifestations of 60 out of 75 possible symptoms or complications than patients of Ashkenazi origin. Symptoms or complications with more severe manifestations in Sephardic patients included muscle pain, baldness, inflammation of cutaneous blood vessels, antibodies to DNA and red blood cell sedimentation rate. Sephardic patients who were from Yemen had more severe manifestations of SLE than those who were from other countries.

Demographic aspects, Diseases

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