Alexandros A Drosos

Publications (284) View all

• Article: Coping with health-stressors and defence styles associated with health-related quality of life in patients with systemic lupus erythematosus.

  T Hyphantis, K Palieraki, P V Voulgari, N Tsifetaki, A A Drosos
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  ABSTRACT: This study aimed to assess the association of coping with health-stressors and defence styles with health-related quality of life (HRQOL) in systemic lupus erythematosus (SLE). In 56 SLE patients we assessed disease activity (SLEDAI), functional limitations (HAQ), psychological distress (SCL-90-R), defence styles (Defence Style Questionnaire), hostility (HDHQ), coping with health-stressors (Sense of Coherence scale) and HRQOL (WHOQOL-BREF). Two hundred and eight rheumatologic patients (168 with rheumatoid arthritis [RA] and 40 with primary Sjögren's syndrome [SS]) served as disease controls. SLE patients' HRQOL was similar to that of patients with RA and primary SS after adjusting for demographic and disease variables. Psychological distress was significantly associated with most aspects of HRQOL, but sense of coherence mediated the relationship of psychological distress with Physical HRQOL; this mediation effect was unique to SLE, as mediation analyses showed. Maladaptive action defence style was also significantly associated with Environment HRQOL independently of psychological distress (p < 0.024). These findings indicate that, apart from the early assessment and treatment of psychological distress, clinicians and consultation-liaison psychiatrists should bear in mind the SLE patients' psychological resources and coping capacities to deal with the stress of the disease, since such traits, although usually underestimated, are strongly independently associated with HRQOL.
  Lupus 05/2011; 20(9):893-903. · 2.34 Impact Factor
• Article: Subclinical atherosclerosis in scleroderma patients.

  N Tsifetaki, A N Georgiadis, Y Alamanos, S Fanis, M I Argyropoulou, A A Drosos
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  ABSTRACT: To investigate subclinical atherosclerosis in patients with systemic sclerosis (SSc). Sixty-six patients with SSc who met the American College of Rheumatology criteria for the disease were included. The serum levels of total cholesterol (TC), triglycerides, high density lipoprotein cholesterol (HDL-C), and low density lipoprotein cholesterol (LDL-C) were determined in all patients. Carotid artery intima-media thickness (IMT) and carotid plaques were measured. Patients with a history of atherosclerosis, hypertension, smokers, or patients suffering from conditions that affect the lipid profile, such as diabetes mellitus, hypothyroidism, liver or kidney diseases, Cushing's syndrome, obesity, and a history of familial dyslipidaemia, were excluded. Patients receiving medication affecting lipid metabolism were also excluded from the study. Fifty-one age- and sex-matched non-smoking volunteers were used as controls. Sixty patients were investigated. Six were excluded. Of these, two were smokers, two had diabetes mellitus, one hypothyroidism, and one had hypertension treated with diuretics. Patients with SSc exhibited mild dyslipidaemia expressed mainly by low serum levels of HDL-C and high TC (p < 0.001 and p < 0.021, respectively) compared to controls. In addition, the atherogenic ratio LDL-C/HDL-C was significantly higher among SSc patients (p < 0.0001). Common carotid artery IMTs were higher in SSc compared to controls (0.77 +/- 0.2 vs. 0.59 +/- 0.14, p < 0.0001). No correlation between IMTs and any SSc features were found. Logistic regression analysis showed an independent association of scleroderma with IMTs and TC. The scleroderma patients exhibited an atherogenic lipid profile and subclinical atherosclerosis and have an increased risk for cardiovascular events.
  Scandinavian journal of rheumatology 08/2010; 39(4):326-9. · 2.51 Impact Factor
• Article: The role of microRNA-146a (miR-146a) and its target IL-1R-associated kinase (IRAK1) in psoriatic arthritis susceptibility.

  A Chatzikyriakidou, P V Voulgari, I Georgiou, A A Drosos
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  ABSTRACT: MicroRNAs have shown different expression patterns in immune diseases. The present study explores the association of miRNA-146a variant rs2910164 and of two IRAK1 (target of miR-146a) polymorphisms rs3027898 and rs1059703 with psoriasic arthritis (PsA). Twenty-nine PsA and 66 controls were enrolled in the study. To study if the statistical significant differences between patients with PsA and controls are independent to psoriasis, we expanded the study in 49 patients with ankylosing spondylitis (AS). Strong statistical significant difference was observed in IRAK1 rs3027898 polymorphism distribution between patients with PsA and controls (P = 0.003), as between patients with AS and controls (P < 0.001). Marginally significant difference was observed in distribution of IRAK1 rs1059703 genotypes between patients with PsA and controls (P = 0.058), but no difference was observed in miRNA-146a rs2910164 distribution (P = 0.394). This is the first study that addresses IRAK1 rs3027898 polymorphism association with PsA susceptibility, but further studies could help to understand the extent of the proposed association.
  Scandinavian Journal of Immunology 05/2010; 71(5):382-5. · 2.23 Impact Factor
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  Available from: Sylejman Rexhepi

  Article: Disparities in rheumatoid arthritis disease activity according to gross domestic product in 25 countries in the QUEST-RA database.

  T Sokka, H Kautiainen, T Pincus, S Toloza, G da Rocha Castelar Pinheiro, J Lazovskis, M L Hetland, T Peets, K Immonen, J F Maillefert, [......], V Skakic, A Naranjo, E Baecklund, D Henrohn, F Gogus, H Badsha, A Mofti, P Taylor, C McClinton, Y Yazici
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  ABSTRACT: To analyse associations between the clinical status of patients with rheumatoid arthritis (RA) and the gross domestic product (GDP) of their resident country. The Quantitative Standard Monitoring of Patients with Rheumatoid Arthritis (QUEST-RA) cohort includes clinical and questionnaire data from 6004 patients who were seen in usual care at 70 rheumatology clinics in 25 countries as of April 2008, including 18 European countries. Demographic variables, clinical characteristics, RA disease activity measures, including the disease activity score in 28 joints (DAS28), and treatment-related variables were analysed according to GDP per capita, including 14 "high GDP" countries with GDP per capita greater than US$24,000 and 11 "low GDP" countries with GDP per capita less than US$11,000. Disease activity DAS28 ranged between 3.1 and 6.0 among the 25 countries and was significantly associated with GDP (r = -0.78, 95% CI -0.56 to -0.90, r(2) = 61%). Disease activity levels differed substantially between "high GDP" and "low GDP" countries at much greater levels than according to whether patients were currently taking or not taking methotrexate, prednisone and/or biological agents. The clinical status of patients with RA was correlated significantly with GDP among 25 mostly European countries according to all disease measures, associated only modestly with the current use of antirheumatic medications. The burden of arthritis appears substantially greater in "low GDP" than in "high GDP" countries. These findings may alert healthcare professionals and designers of health policy towards improving the clinical status of patients with RA in all countries.
  Annals of the rheumatic diseases 07/2009; 68(11):1666-72. · 8.11 Impact Factor
• Article: A mandibular osteolytic lesion in a systemic lupus erythematosus patient on long-standing bisphosphonate therapy.

  C Papagoras, V Botzoris, P Voulgari, A Drosos
  Rheumatology International 06/2008; · 1.88 Impact Factor