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Background & objectives: Chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD) is characterized by irreversible airflow limitation and systemic inflammation which is also associated with pulmonary and extra-pulmonary complications. COPD Diagnostic Questionnaire (CDQ) is a valid questionnaire that is used to identify patients with COPD. The purpose of this study was to determine the relationship between the severity of airflow limitation and the CDQ score in COPD patients.
Methods: In this study, 100 patients with COPD and smoking history were included. The diagnosis of COPD was established based on American Thoracic Society (ATS) guidelines: cough and expulsion of phlegm, chronic dyspnea, obstructive spirometric pattern (forced expiratory volume in one second (FEV1)/forced vital capacity (FVC) <70%). Disease severity was classified according to GOLD criteria. After obtaining consent, demographic data, history of smoking, the exacerbation rate in the past year, arterial oxygen saturation (Spo2) and spirometer variables were recorded. Then, CDQ and Modified Medical Research Council (MMRC) dyspnea score were completed. Also, the associations of the CDQ score with FEV1% predicted and clinical parameters of patients were tested.
Results: All studied patients were male. There was a significant relationship between CDQ score with FEV1% (p<0.001), GOLD stage (p<0.01), Spo2 (p<0.01), exacerbation rate (p<0.01) and severity of dyspnea according to MMRC dyspnea scale (p<0.01).
Conclusion: The CDQ can be used to determine airflow limitation, severity of dyspnea and exacerbation rate in COPD patients. Therefore, it is recommended that this questionnaire can be used in primary health centers for identifying and referring of COPD patients.
 

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Pulmonary alveolar microlithiasis is a rare autosomal recessive disease characterized by the formation of calcium phosphate deposition in the alveoli. Although the disease most often occurs in children, most patients with the disease are diagnosed in adulthood due to the slow progression of the disease inside the lungs. In childhood, it often causes no symptoms, and changes in the lung parenchyma are usually detected by chance. Symptoms usually appear in the third or fourth decade of life. Diagnosis is made with a combination of positive chest radiography and tissue examination. Genetic testing makes it possible to identify other unidentified patients in the patient's family. In the present study, a patient with pulmonary alveolar microlithiasis was diagnosed using imaging and other disease findings, including clinical manifestations as well as history is taken from the patient.
 

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Background: Systemic lupus erythematosus is an autoimmune disease in which organs and cells are damaged in the initial stages by tissue-binding autoantibodies and immune complexes. Clinical, demographic and laboratory information of patients with SLE in Ardabil province is the aim of this study.
Methods: The present study is a cross-sectional descriptive study that examines demographic data (age, gender), clinical information such as the first manifestation of the disease, clinical symptoms, etc., and laboratory findings such as CBC, ESR, CRP, proteinuria, FANA, Anti dsDNA, C3, C4, Anti RO and APS Ab of patients who referred to the rheumatology clinic of Imam Khomeini Hospital (RA) in 2021.
Results: Information related to the clinical characteristics of 50 patients, including 46 women (92%) and 4 men (8%), with an average age of 12.14 ± 40.78 years (range: 21-73) and age at diagnosis of 10.62 ± 31.76 years were investigated. The most common initial complaint in the studied patients was related to isolated joint symptoms (28%). The most common clinical symptoms observed in the examined patients were related to joint symptoms along with sensitivity to light with a frequency of 20%. ANA, anti-dsDNA tests positivity and reduced C3 and C4 levels were observed in 88%, 70% and 26% of patients, respectively.
Conclusion: The establishment of a registry system for the structured registration of information of patients with systemic lupus erythematosus in each region is necessary to a better understanding of the characteristics of the disease and better management policy of patients.