ve hastalık süresi ortalama 54.91 ± 59.5 ay olarak belirlendi. FMS'li hastaların tedavi öncesi ve tedavi sonrası değerlendirilen GAS ve FEA skorları arasındaki istatistiksel olarak anlamlı farklılık vardı (p=0.01). FEA skorlarındaki azalma sigara içmeyen hastalarda daha fazlaydı (p<0.05). Sonuç: FMS'li hastalarda BT sonrasında GAS değerlerinde ve FEA skorlarında anlamlı derecede azalma vardı. Bununla birlikte yaşam kalitesindeki artış sigara içmeyen FM'li hastalarda sigara içen FM'li hastalara oranla daha fazladır.

BACKGROUND: Low back pain is an important health problem that may cause functional loss. Several back pain disability scales have been developed in different languages. OBJECTIVE: The present study evaluates the correlation between the Istanbul Low Back Pain Disability Index (ILBPDI) the Back Pain Functional Scale (BPFS) and other back pain disability scales in patients with mechanical low back pain. METHODS: Included in the study were 105 patients who presented to our outpatient clinics and who were diagnosed with mechanical low back pain. The ILBPDI, BPFS, Quebec back pain disability scale (QBPDS) and Oswestry low back pain disability questionnaire (ODI) were administered to all participants, and Visual analogue scale (VAS) scores were recorded. RESULTS: A strongly negative correlation was identified between ILBPDI and BPFS (p< 0.05), and a strongly positive correlation was noted between ILBPDI and QBPDS, ODI and VAS. CONCLUSION: A strong correlation exists between ILBPDI and BPFS, and a further strong correlation between ILBPDI ODI and QBPDS. These questionnaires can be used interchangeably to evaluate disability associated with chronic mechanical low back pain.

BackgroundSystemic lupus erythematosus (SLE) is a multisystemic chronic autoimmune disease that is nine times more frequent among females. Due to a female dominancy, the data regarding male patients is limited.ObjectivesThis study aimed to evaluate the clinical characteristics of male patients with SLE.MethodsThis retrospective study included male SLE patients who followed up in a tertiary rheumatology outpatient clinic between October 2016 and December 2021. Those who met the Systemic Lupus International Collaborating Clinics (SLICC) criteria were included. The data of the patients and SLE Disease Activity Index-2000 (SLEDAI-2K) values were obtained from files.ResultsThere were 40 male SLE patients with a mean age of 42.7 ± 17.3 years. The median age of diagnosis was 30 years, and the median disease duration was 63.5 months (ranges between 5-444). The mean value of the SLICC score was 4.7 ± 0.8. The most frequent initial clinical manifestations were thrombocytopenia and photosensitivity, which were seen in 8 (9.6%) patients each (Table 1). Six (15%) patients had secondary antiphospholipid antibody syndrome. Thirty-five (87.5%) patients achieved remission, but 14 (35%) patients had at least one relapse in the follow-up period. The most frequent manifestation after relapse was nephritis in 9 (22.5%) patients that had no renal involvement at the time of diagnosis. The median SLEDAI score was 2 (ranges between 0-12). The most commonly preferred drug for the treatment was hydroxychloroquine and corticosteroids (92.5% for each). Nineteen (47.5%) patients received pulse steroids. Besides, the most frequently prescribed immunosuppressive drug was mycophenolate mofetil (37.5%). The rates of azathioprine, cyclophosphamide, methotrexate, cyclosporine A, rituximab, intravenous immunoglobulin, and leflunomide usage were 30%, 27.5%, 17.5%, 10%, 7.5%, 7.5%, 5%, respectively. Antinuclear antibody (ANA) was positive in 35 (87.5%) patients, and anti-dsDNA was positive in 9 (22.5%). The median level of anti-dsDNA titers was 40 IU/ml (ranges between 23-200). Other autoantibody positivity rates were; 12 (30%) for anti-Sm, 6 (15%) for anti-histon, 4 (10%) for anti-RNP and 4 (10%) for anti-nucleosome. Thirteen (32.5%) patients had low C3 levels, and 11 (27.5%) patients had low C4 levels. The hospitalisation rate was 55%, and no death was seen during follow-up.Table 1.Clinical characteristics of the patients (n=40)CharacteristicsPatients   Clinical manifestations, n(%)InitialRelapseThrombocytopenia8 (20)None   Photosensitivity8 (20)None   Anemia7 (17.5)NoneMalar rash6 (15)2 (15)   Nephritis6 (15)9 (22.5)Arthiritis/synovitis5 (12.5)6 (15)Subacute lesions4 (10)2 (5)   Leukopenia/lymphopenia4 (10)NoneThrombosis3 (7.5)4 (10)Neurological involvement3 (7.5)NoneSerositis2 (5)2 (5)Pulmonery involvement2 (5)None   Discoid lupus erythematosus1 (2.5)1 (2.5)   Myositis1 (2.5)NoneConclusionSince SLE is more prevalent among females, it may occur in male patients with mild or life-threatening manifestations. In the current study, the seropositivity was less than in the literature, which may indicate male patients should be cautiously evaluated. Although renal involvement is not an initial manifestation, it may develop during the follow-up.Disclosure of InterestsNone declared