Brief Report: Menopause and Primary Ovarian Insufficiency in Women Treated for Antineutrophil Cytoplasmic Antibody-Associated Vasculitides

Long-Term Follow-Up of Cyclical Cyclophosphamide and Steroids Versus Tacrolimus and Steroids in Primary Membranous Nephropathy

Introduction

Kidney Disease: Improving Global Outcomes (KDIGO) 2012 recommends cyclical cyclophosphamide plus glucocorticoids (GC) (modified Ponticelli regimen) or calcineurin inhibitors (CNIs) such as tacrolimus (TAC) or cyclosporine as the first-line agents for the management of primary membranous nephropathy (PMN) that is resistant to antiproteinuric therapy with renin-angiotensin system blockers. However, the long-term outcome of patients treated with CNIs is not known.

Methods

We report the outcomes of 70 patients randomized 1:1 to receive modified Ponticelli regimen or TAC/GC for renin-angiotensin system–resistant PMN who were prospectively followed for 6 years. Patients were followed monthly for 12 months, then quarterly for 12 months, and then every 6 months through the end of 6 years.

Results

At the end of 6 years, 21 (61.76%) and 9 (28.12%) patients maintained relapse-free remission in modified Ponticelli regimen and TAC/GC groups, respectively (relative risk [RR]: 2.19, 95% confidence interval [CI]: 1.23 to 4.15), and 30 (88.23%) and 17 (53.12%) patients were in remission (including relapses) in modified Ponticelli regimen and TAC/GC groups (RR: 1.66; 95% CI: 1.21 to 2.45), respectively. There was no significant difference in the proportion of patients who had a 40% decline in the estimated glomerular filtration rate (eGFR), death, or end-stage kidney disease between the groups. None of the patients treated with modified Ponticelli regimen reported a solid organ or hematological malignancy.

Conclusions

To conclude, in the long-term, modified Ponticelli regimen is superior to TAC/GC as first-line therapy for the management of antiproteinuric-resistant PMN.

Menopause and multiple sclerosis: Influence on prognosis and role of disease-modifying drugs and hormonal replacement therapy

Background:

Sex hormones play a role in both the risk and the prognosis of multiple sclerosis (MS). Considering all stages of women’s reproductive life, data regarding the influence of menopause on MS and vice versa are scarce.

Objective:

The aim of this study was to review the evidence addressing the relationship between menopause and MS.

Methods:

A literature search through PubMed was conducted, selecting studies that assessed (1) the influence of menopause in the MS course, (2) the influence of MS and disease-modifying drugs (DMD) on the development of menopause and (3) the effect of hormone replacement therapy (HRT) on symptoms of menopausal MS patients.

Results:

(1) Most studies suggest menopause may transitorily aggravate MS symptoms. Two studies found an inflexion point on the Expanding Disability Status Scale (EDSS) with clinical worsening during the menopausal transition. Another study considering full EDSS trajectories from clinically isolated syndrome to postmenopause did not find such an EDSS inflection; (2) MS and DMD do not seem to alter the age of menopause onset; and (3) HRT in menopausal MS patients has not shown consistent benefits.

Conclusion:

Menopause seems to be associated with transient symptom worsening, but the existence of an inflection in disability progression is still controversial. Properly designed studies are necessary to achieve conclusive results.

Osteoporosis in Rheumatic Diseases

Osteoporosis is a chronic disease characterized by an increased risk of fragility fracture. Patients affected by rheumatic diseases are at greater risk of developing osteoporosis. The purpose of the present review is to discuss the pathogenesis, epidemiology, and treatment of osteoporosis in patients affected by rheumatic diseases with special focus for rheumatoid arthritis, psoriatic arthritis, spondyloarthritis, systemic lupus erythematosus, systemic sclerosis, vasculitides, Sjogren syndrome, and crystal-induced arthritis.