Objective. In Japanese individuals, the ؊169C/T single-nucleotide polymorphism (SNP) in FCRL3 has been reported to be associated with rheumatoid arthritis (RA), systemic lupus erythematosus (SLE), and autoimmune thyroid diseases. The objective of this study was to test the association of this SNP with RA and SLE, in a case-control study of Korean individuals.Methods. The ؊169C/T SNP in FCRL3 was genotyped in 1,060 patients with RA, 457 patients with SLE, and 697 unaffected control subjects, using the Mass-ARRAY SNP genotyping system. Associations were tested by multivariate logistic regression, with adjustments for age and sex.Results. No association was detected between the ؊169C/T SNP and RA (odds ratio [OR] 1.11, 95% confidence interval [95% CI] 0.83-1.48, P ‫؍‬ 0.50) or SLE (OR 1.00, 95% CI 0.73-1.37, P ‫؍‬ 0.99). This SNP was not associated with rheumatoid factor status, shared epitope status, radiographic severity in patients with RA, or disease manifestations in patients with SLE.Conclusion. The association of the ؊169C/T SNP in FCRL3 with RA and SLE that was observed in Japanese patients was not replicated in a Korean population.

This study retrospectively investigated the efficacy and adverse events of applying a lower dose (0.5 g/m(2)) of monthly intravenous (IV) cyclophosphamide (CYC) for lupus nephritis in Korean patients. Adverse events occurred in 64 patients (61.5%) of 104 lupus nephritis patients who were treated with IV CYC, with the most common being those related to the gastrointestinal system, followed by infection, symptoms related to the hematopoietic system, skin and its appendages, reproductive system, and urinary system. Lower-dose IV CYC therapy resulted in renal remission or response in 76 patients (73.1%), which was as effective as the reported outcomes of higher-dose (0.75-1.0 g/m(2)) IV CYC regimens. Adverse events were more likely (with borderline statistical significance, p = 0.055) in those who achieved renal remission or response than in nonresponders.

Thrombocytopenia is included in the classification criteria for systemic lupus erythematosus (SLE). However, severe thrombocytopenia causing spontaneous bleeding is rare. Here, we describe a 22-year-old woman who presented with spontaneous hemoperitoneum as the first manifestation of SLE. Laboratory findings compatible with SLE included positive antinuclear antibody and a false-positive venereal disease research laboratory. Symptoms suggesting the disease were not prominent early after admission, but headache and seizures that developed on the 3rd day of admission led to the diagnosis of SLE. The brain magnetic resonance imaging and angiography findings were compatible with the neuropsychiatric manifestations of SLE. High-dose steroid and monthly intravenous cyclophosphamide pulse therapy were effective at improving the headache and seizure, as well as the hemoperitoneum.

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