Disease activity score 28 (DAS28) for rheumatoid arthritis (RA) is the commonly used DAS; it relies on clinical parameters that could be subjective. This work aimed to create a more accurate DAS for RA and assess its validity. Patients and Methods: The study included 98 RA patients and 53 matched controls; they were interviewed, clinically examined, their visual analogue scales (VAS) were reported, and then blood samples were withdrawn for erythrocyte sedimentation rate (ESR), complete blood count (CBC), and C-reactive protein (CRP). Platelet indices (PIs) were obtained from the CBC including Plt (platelet count), mean platelet volume (MPV), platelet distribution width (PDW) and plateletcrit (PCT). DAS28 was calculated for each patient using RheumaHelper mobile software. Minitab Statistical Package® and SPSS v20 software were used for data analysis. Results and Conclusions: Results revealed perfect matching between patients and controls as regarding age and gender. ESR, CRP and PDW were significantly higher in patients than controls; also positive correlations were detected among these variables. A new DAS for RA was developed; ESR, CRP, PDW and MPV were the components for this index. Further analyses showed that this new score was significantly higher in patients than controls and correlated with DAS28 of the patients. Furthermore the new score could identify RA patients from healthy subjects (cut off value − 0.79) and stratified RA patients according to their disease activity into low, intermediate, high, or in remission. Conclusively, we developed a more precise, easily obtained new DAS for RA. This new DAS has both diagnostic/prognostic values in patients with RA.

Disease activity score 28 (DAS28) for rheumatoid arthritis (RA) is the commonly used DAS; it relies on clinical parameters that could be subjective. This work aimed to create a more accurate DAS for RA and assess its validity. Patients and Methods: The study included 98 RA patients and 53 matched controls; they were interviewed, clinically examined, their visual analogue scales (VAS) were reported, and then blood samples were withdrawn for erythrocyte sedimentation rate (ESR), complete blood count (CBC), and C-reactive protein (CRP). Platelet indices (PIs) were obtained from the CBC including Plt (platelet count), mean platelet volume (MPV), platelet distribution width (PDW) and plateletcrit (PCT). DAS28 was calculated for each patient using RheumaHelper mobile software. Minitab Statistical Package® and SPSS v20 software were used for data analysis. Results and Conclusions: Results revealed perfect matching between patients and controls as regarding age and gender. ESR, CRP and PDW were significantly higher in patients than controls; also positive correlations were detected among these variables. A new DAS for RA was developed; ESR, CRP, PDW and MPV were the components for this index. Further analyses showed that this new score was significantly higher in patients than controls and correlated with DAS28 of the patients. Furthermore the new score could identify RA patients from healthy subjects (cut off value − 0.79) and stratified RA patients according to their disease activity into low, intermediate, high, or in remission. Conclusively, we developed a more precise, easily obtained new DAS for RA. This new DAS has both diagnostic/prognostic values in patients with RA.

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Background Cardiovascular disease (CVD) has become increasingly recognized as a cause of mortality, especially in patients with long-standing systemic lupus erythematosus (SLE). Aim of the work To detect subclinical cardiac involvement and its relation to clinical characteristics, disease activity and damage. Patients and methods Transthoracic echocardiography (TTE) was performed in 36 SLE patients. Cardiac magnetic resonance (CMR) sections were obtained. T1-weighted inversion recovery scout images were obtained after injection of gadolinium. Results Thirty-six patients were included with a mean age of 32.4 ± 8.5 years; 35 females and 1 male; with disease duration of 7.9 ± 5 years. The frequent cardiac presentations on TTE were tricuspid regurgitation (TR) (41.6%), mitral regurgitation (MR) (36.1%), mitral thickening (25%), early diastolic mitral flow/mitral flow during atrial contraction (E/A) 1 (19.4%). The most frequent cardiac presentations by CMR were MR (25%), pericarditis (25%), mitral thickening (13.9%), TR (13.9%), myocarditis (8.3). Neither SLE Disease Activity Index (SLEDAI) nor Systemic Lupus International Collaborating Clinics (SLICC) damage index, high- sensitivity-C reactive protein (hsCRP), C3 and C4 levels were significantly correlated with the ejection fraction (EF) by CMR. There was significant negative correlation between disease duration and EF by CMR (r = −0.36, p = 0.03). Using multiple regression, EF by CMR was strongly predicted by disease duration (p = 0.025). The analysis of EF and MR fraction by CMR and TTE showed acceptable moderate agreement. CMR and TTE showed 83.3% agreement in the detection of pericarditis. Conclusion CMR is superior to echocardiography in detection of subclinical abnormalities in SLE.

Background Cardiovascular disease (CVD) has become increasingly recognized as a cause of mortality, especially in patients with long-standing systemic lupus erythematosus (SLE). Aim of the work To detect subclinical cardiac involvement and its relation to clinical characteristics, disease activity and damage. Patients and methods Transthoracic echocardiography (TTE) was performed in 36 SLE patients. Cardiac magnetic resonance (CMR) sections were obtained. T1-weighted inversion recovery scout images were obtained after injection of gadolinium. Results Thirty-six patients were included with a mean age of 32.4 ± 8.5 years; 35 females and 1 male; with disease duration of 7.9 ± 5 years. The frequent cardiac presentations on TTE were tricuspid regurgitation (TR) (41.6%), mitral regurgitation (MR) (36.1%), mitral thickening (25%), early diastolic mitral flow/mitral flow during atrial contraction (E/A) 1 (19.4%). The most frequent cardiac presentations by CMR were MR (25%), pericarditis (25%), mitral thickening (13.9%), TR (13.9%), myocarditis (8.3). Neither SLE Disease Activity Index (SLEDAI) nor Systemic Lupus International Collaborating Clinics (SLICC) damage index, high- sensitivity-C reactive protein (hsCRP), C3 and C4 levels were significantly correlated with the ejection fraction (EF) by CMR. There was significant negative correlation between disease duration and EF by CMR (r = −0.36, p = 0.03). Using multiple regression, EF by CMR was strongly predicted by disease duration (p = 0.025). The analysis of EF and MR fraction by CMR and TTE showed acceptable moderate agreement. CMR and TTE showed 83.3% agreement in the detection of pericarditis. Conclusion CMR is superior to echocardiography in detection of subclinical abnormalities in SLE.

Background Cardiovascular disease (CVD) has become increasingly recognized as a cause of mortality, especially in patients with long-standing systemic lupus erythematosus (SLE). Aim of the work To detect subclinical cardiac involvement and its relation to clinical characteristics, disease activity and damage. Patients and methods Transthoracic echocardiography (TTE) was performed in 36 SLE patients. Cardiac magnetic resonance (CMR) sections were obtained. T1-weighted inversion recovery scout images were obtained after injection of gadolinium. Results Thirty-six patients were included with a mean age of 32.4 ± 8.5 years; 35 females and 1 male; with disease duration of 7.9 ± 5 years. The frequent cardiac presentations on TTE were tricuspid regurgitation (TR) (41.6%), mitral regurgitation (MR) (36.1%), mitral thickening (25%), early diastolic mitral flow/mitral flow during atrial contraction (E/A) 1 (19.4%). The most frequent cardiac presentations by CMR were MR (25%), pericarditis (25%), mitral thickening (13.9%), TR (13.9%), myocarditis (8.3). Neither SLE Disease Activity Index (SLEDAI) nor Systemic Lupus International Collaborating Clinics (SLICC) damage index, high- sensitivity-C reactive protein (hsCRP), C3 and C4 levels were significantly correlated with the ejection fraction (EF) by CMR. There was significant negative correlation between disease duration and EF by CMR (r = −0.36, p = 0.03). Using multiple regression, EF by CMR was strongly predicted by disease duration (p = 0.025). The analysis of EF and MR fraction by CMR and TTE showed acceptable moderate agreement. CMR and TTE showed 83.3% agreement in the detection of pericarditis. Conclusion CMR is superior to echocardiography in detection of subclinical abnormalities in SLE.

Background Cardiovascular disease (CVD) has become increasingly recognized as a cause of mortality, especially in patients with long-standing systemic lupus erythematosus (SLE). Aim of the work To detect subclinical cardiac involvement and its relation to clinical characteristics, disease activity and damage. Patients and methods Transthoracic echocardiography (TTE) was performed in 36 SLE patients. Cardiac magnetic resonance (CMR) sections were obtained. T1-weighted inversion recovery scout images were obtained after injection of gadolinium. Results Thirty-six patients were included with a mean age of 32.4 ± 8.5 years; 35 females and 1 male; with disease duration of 7.9 ± 5 years. The frequent cardiac presentations on TTE were tricuspid regurgitation (TR) (41.6%), mitral regurgitation (MR) (36.1%), mitral thickening (25%), early diastolic mitral flow/mitral flow during atrial contraction (E/A) 1 (19.4%). The most frequent cardiac presentations by CMR were MR (25%), pericarditis (25%), mitral thickening (13.9%), TR (13.9%), myocarditis (8.3). Neither SLE Disease Activity Index (SLEDAI) nor Systemic Lupus International Collaborating Clinics (SLICC) damage index, high- sensitivity-C reactive protein (hsCRP), C3 and C4 levels were significantly correlated with the ejection fraction (EF) by CMR. There was significant negative correlation between disease duration and EF by CMR (r = −0.36, p = 0.03). Using multiple regression, EF by CMR was strongly predicted by disease duration (p = 0.025). The analysis of EF and MR fraction by CMR and TTE showed acceptable moderate agreement. CMR and TTE showed 83.3% agreement in the detection of pericarditis. Conclusion CMR is superior to echocardiography in detection of subclinical abnormalities in SLE.

Background Cardiovascular disease (CVD) has become increasingly recognized as a cause of mortality, especially in patients with long-standing systemic lupus erythematosus (SLE). Aim of the work To detect subclinical cardiac involvement and its relation to clinical characteristics, disease activity and damage. Patients and methods Transthoracic echocardiography (TTE) was performed in 36 SLE patients. Cardiac magnetic resonance (CMR) sections were obtained. T1-weighted inversion recovery scout images were obtained after injection of gadolinium. Results Thirty-six patients were included with a mean age of 32.4 ± 8.5 years; 35 females and 1 male; with disease duration of 7.9 ± 5 years. The frequent cardiac presentations on TTE were tricuspid regurgitation (TR) (41.6%), mitral regurgitation (MR) (36.1%), mitral thickening (25%), early diastolic mitral flow/mitral flow during atrial contraction (E/A) 1 (19.4%). The most frequent cardiac presentations by CMR were MR (25%), pericarditis (25%), mitral thickening (13.9%), TR (13.9%), myocarditis (8.3). Neither SLE Disease Activity Index (SLEDAI) nor Systemic Lupus International Collaborating Clinics (SLICC) damage index, high- sensitivity-C reactive protein (hsCRP), C3 and C4 levels were significantly correlated with the ejection fraction (EF) by CMR. There was significant negative correlation between disease duration and EF by CMR (r = −0.36, p = 0.03). Using multiple regression, EF by CMR was strongly predicted by disease duration (p = 0.025). The analysis of EF and MR fraction by CMR and TTE showed acceptable moderate agreement. CMR and TTE showed 83.3% agreement in the detection of pericarditis. Conclusion CMR is superior to echocardiography in detection of subclinical abnormalities in SLE.