background: in lupus nephritis (ln), deposition of pathogenic autoantibodies in the glomeruli is mediated via cross-reactivity with alpha-actinin. association of serum alpha-actinin antibody (aαa) with ln has been shown in a few studies but the results are controversial. methods: eighty patients into entered the study. the diagnosis of sle was confirmed according to the american college of rheu...

anti malaria agents including chloroquine and hydroxichloroquine are commonly used for rheumatic diseases e.g. systemic erythematous lupus or rheumatoid arthritis. one of the most important systemic side effects of these agents is ocular side effects (chloroquine toxicity retinopathy). regarding to importance of early detection of this toxicity, the patients who take these drugs should be evalu...

Senescence is a normal biological process that occurs in all organisms and involves a decline in cell functions. This process is caused by molecular regulatory machinery alterations, and it is closely related to telomere erosion in chromosomes. In the context of the immune system, this phenomenon is known as immunosenescence and refers to the immune function deregulation. Therefore, functions o...

A 53-year-old female was admitted to the intensive care unit for lupus cerebritis; she had a 15-year history of stable lupus. Over the prior 1 to 2 months, the patient visited a tanning salon and this triggered the exacerbation of lupus. Her initial symptoms were cutaneous in the form of an erythematous rash. Within 2 weeks she started to have headaches and was admitted for seizure and psychosi...