{"title":"Predictive value of rheumatoid factor titre in cryoglobulinemia in Hepatitis C positive patients","authors":"R. Ghaleb, H. Sadek, Abdo Mohammed","doi":"10.4172/1758-4272.1000222","DOIUrl":"https://doi.org/10.4172/1758-4272.1000222","url":null,"abstract":"Background/objective: HCV viremia has been known to provoke a plethora of autoimmune syndromes as well as nonspecific rheumatologic manifestations. HCV is the most frequent cause of mixed cryoglobulinemia, which is characterized by endothelial deposition of rheumatoid factor containing immune complexes and endorgan vasculitis. Rheumatoid factor positivity is found to be more prevalent among patients with HCV infection compared to the general population. The aim of the study was to ascertain the relationship of rheumatoid factor titer with cryoglobuliemia in hepatitis C virus positive patients and to assess its relation with different disease characteristics. Methods: A cross sectional study was carried out through one year. Fifty patients known to suffer from HCV were subjects of the study. Patients were interviewed and demographic, clinical and serologic data were recorded. All patients were tested for cryoglobulins by crude method and rheumatoid factor titer was determined in all patients. Child-Pugh classification was used for assessment of liver cell failure. Data were analyzed by the Statistical Package for the Social Sciences (SPSS, version 17). Data analysis is done by using Chi-Squared test (χ2) test and Fisher’s exact test as appropriate. Associations between interval, ordinal and dichotomous variables were tested by Pearson`s Product Moment Correlation Coefficients (r). Results: Cryoglobulinemia was detected in 36 (72%) patients out of the 50 HCV patients. Rheumatoid Factor (RF) was positive in 38% patients (76%). All HCV patients who were positive for cryoglobulin had a positive RF. Presence of RF found to be positively significantly correlated with the presence of cryogloulins in HCV patients. Conclusions: HCV infection is a major contributing factor of mixed cryoglobulinemia with elevation in RF titre. Positive anti-HCV antibodies together with highly positive RF titre in the presence of musculoskeletal, neurological and cutaneous manifestations strongly suggest the diagnosis of mixed cryoglobulinemia.","PeriodicalId":13740,"journal":{"name":"International Journal of Clinical Rheumatology","volume":"22 1","pages":""},"PeriodicalIF":0.0,"publicationDate":"2019-01-01","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"82832115","PeriodicalName":null,"FirstCategoryId":null,"ListUrlMain":null,"RegionNum":0,"RegionCategory":"","ArticlePicture":[],"TitleCN":null,"AbstractTextCN":null,"PMCID":"","EPubDate":null,"PubModel":null,"JCR":null,"JCRName":null,"Score":null,"Total":0}
G. Lugo-Zamudio, R. Barbosa-Cobos, D. Delgado-Ochoa, Rodrigo Arreola
{"title":"Genetic markers in HLA region to identify patients with tuberculosis risk, in RA subjects","authors":"G. Lugo-Zamudio, R. Barbosa-Cobos, D. Delgado-Ochoa, Rodrigo Arreola","doi":"10.4172/1758-4272.1000218","DOIUrl":"https://doi.org/10.4172/1758-4272.1000218","url":null,"abstract":"Objetive: To identify the patients with RA at highest risk of TB, prior to the use of biological therapy antiTNF. Method: We carried out a study of two phases considered three groups, in the first we performed a case and control study in the Hospital Juarez de Mexico, in the second phase, the results of phase one were analyzed with those obtained in the group of patients identified with Poncet´s disease. We compared the classes I and II of the HLA of patients naive to biologic treatment with healthy controls. Result: We have identified several candidate alleles that will help to advance the personalized treatment of RA that takes into account the genetic risk to develop TB, particularly the alleles B27 and DQB1*0301. Conclusion: Patients with RA have an increased risk to develop TB and severe complications derived from it. This infectious process is related to the use of biologic.","PeriodicalId":13740,"journal":{"name":"International Journal of Clinical Rheumatology","volume":"68 1","pages":""},"PeriodicalIF":0.0,"publicationDate":"2019-01-01","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"73696811","PeriodicalName":null,"FirstCategoryId":null,"ListUrlMain":null,"RegionNum":0,"RegionCategory":"","ArticlePicture":[],"TitleCN":null,"AbstractTextCN":null,"PMCID":"","EPubDate":null,"PubModel":null,"JCR":null,"JCRName":null,"Score":null,"Total":0}
{"title":"A validation study of the Taiwanese version of the assessment of spondyoarthritis international society health index","authors":"Holman Chan","doi":"10.37532/1758-4272.2019.14(5).225-233","DOIUrl":"https://doi.org/10.37532/1758-4272.2019.14(5).225-233","url":null,"abstract":"Objective: The objective is to validate the Assessment of SpondyloArthritis International Society Health Index (ASAS HI) in patients with Spondyloarthritis (SpA). Methods: We recruited 102 consecutive patients with SpA from two rheumatology clinics. Demographic data was collected. Recruited patients completed the ASAS HI and other self-assessment questionnaires (Bath Ankylosing Spondylitis Disease Activity Index (BASDAI), Bath Ankylosing Spondylitis Global Index (BASGI), Oswestry Disability Index (ODI), Short Form (36) Health Survey (SF-36), Euro-quality-of-life-5D (EQ5D), Hospital Anxiety and Depression Scale (HADS) and Work Productivity and Activity Impairment questionnaire (WPAI)). Ankylosing Spondylitis Disease Activity Score (ASDAS) was calculated. Correlations between ASAS HI and the questionnaires were determined for concurrent validity. The ASAS HI score was also checked for test-retest reliability, internal consistency, discriminative ability, and floor and ceiling effects. Results: The ASAS HI achieved good test-retest reliability (ICC 0.87), internal consistency, and discriminative ability. It had no floor or ceiling effect. Favourable concurrent validity was found with measures of disease activities (BASDAI, ASDAS), quality-of-life (SF 36, EQ5D), psychological symptoms (HADS), and work disability (WAPI). The ASAS HI was able to differentiate higher disease activity and psychological symptoms. Patients found it easy to understand, comprehensive, relevant and appropriate to their disease. The average time needed to complete the questionnaire was 2 minutes 36 seconds ± 1 minute 2 seconds. Conclusion: The Taiwanese version of the ASAS HI is a validated tool in the assessment of health status in patients with SpA.","PeriodicalId":13740,"journal":{"name":"International Journal of Clinical Rheumatology","volume":"46 1","pages":"225"},"PeriodicalIF":0.0,"publicationDate":"2019-01-01","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"88768400","PeriodicalName":null,"FirstCategoryId":null,"ListUrlMain":null,"RegionNum":0,"RegionCategory":"","ArticlePicture":[],"TitleCN":null,"AbstractTextCN":null,"PMCID":"","EPubDate":null,"PubModel":null,"JCR":null,"JCRName":null,"Score":null,"Total":0}
Maha J Aljasser, Hanady Manasfi, Amjad Abdelnabi Hanan Y Abdurabu
{"title":"Refractory thrombocytopenia in SLE patient with massive thigh hematoma and hematuria successfully treated with Rituximab: Case Report","authors":"Maha J Aljasser, Hanady Manasfi, Amjad Abdelnabi Hanan Y Abdurabu","doi":"10.4172/1758-4272.1000219","DOIUrl":"https://doi.org/10.4172/1758-4272.1000219","url":null,"abstract":"Background: Systemic Lupus Erythematosus is a multisystemic inflammatory disease with broad clinical presentation, 9.5% to 44.5% of patients with SLE have thrombocytopenia complication of different grades. No significant increase in risk of hemorrhage was found in patients with SLE with moderate thrombocytopenia, while those with severe thrombocytopenia frequently developed bleeding, which is associated with the activity of the disease and potentially life-threatening condition, if left untreated. Case presentation: We report a case of 35-year-old SLE male patient, presented with sudden painful large non-traumatic ecchymotic lesion on the right thigh extending to calf with macroscopic hematuria. At presentation, platelets count was 50 x 109/L with hemoglobin dropping from 10.3 to 6.9 g/dl. Anticardiolipin antibody and Antiphospholipid antibody were absent. Other factors including infection and visceral involvement were excluded. MRI of the thigh showed huge intramuscular hematoma extending to calf. Satisfactory control was partially achieved with platelet transfusion, pulse steroid, cellcept, IVIG (intravenous immunoglobulins) and consequently Rituximab. Our case describes refractory thrombocytopenia not responding to multiple agents including high dose steroids, cellcept, platelet transfusion, IVIG (intravenous immunoglobulins) and cyklokapron; however, it achieved its complete remission with Rituximab. Bleeding is not usual presentation with moderate thrombocytopenia in SLE patients and presumably played a role in prognosis. Conclusion: Our case report has demonstrated the efficacy of treating refractory thrombocytopenia resistant to steroids due to Systemic Lupus Erythematosus in whom other reasonable options have been exhausted.","PeriodicalId":13740,"journal":{"name":"International Journal of Clinical Rheumatology","volume":"104 1","pages":""},"PeriodicalIF":0.0,"publicationDate":"2019-01-01","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"80663970","PeriodicalName":null,"FirstCategoryId":null,"ListUrlMain":null,"RegionNum":0,"RegionCategory":"","ArticlePicture":[],"TitleCN":null,"AbstractTextCN":null,"PMCID":"","EPubDate":null,"PubModel":null,"JCR":null,"JCRName":null,"Score":null,"Total":0}
R. Abdel-Magied, Hanaa A.S. AbuOmar, A. Higazi, Abeer Awad Amal A Hassan
{"title":"Synovial fluid level of vascular endothelial growth factor (VEGF) can predict functional status and radiological severity in patients with knee osteoarthritis (OA)","authors":"R. Abdel-Magied, Hanaa A.S. AbuOmar, A. Higazi, Abeer Awad Amal A Hassan","doi":"10.4172/1758-4272.1000217","DOIUrl":"https://doi.org/10.4172/1758-4272.1000217","url":null,"abstract":"Aim of the work: Detection of serum and synovial fluid level of Vascular Endothelial Growth Factor (VEGF) in patients with knee osteoarthritis (OA) and to determine its relation to radiological severity and function status. Patients and methods: Thirty OA patients and thirty controls were included. Function status was assessed using the Western Ontario and McMaster Universities Osteoarthritis Index (WOMAC). Knee pain evaluated using the Visual Analogue Scale (VAS). Serum and synovial fluid level of VEGF were measured. Kellgren-Lawrence grading scale (KL) used to assess radiological severity. Results: The mean of patients’ age was 50.33 ± 5.3 years (20 females and 10 males) with disease duration of 7.03 ± 2.12 years. Mean synovial fluid VEGF of OA patients was 964.1 ± 396.72, mean serum VEGF of OA patients was 219.1 ± 96.95. No difference between serum VEGF of patients and control groups (p=0.787). Significant positive correlation between serum and synovial VEGF in OA patients (r=0.58, p=0.001). Significant positive correlation between the synovial fluid VEGF and patients’ age, disease duration, inactivity stiffness, ESR, VAS, WOMAC and KL grade scale (p‹0.0001,p=0.029,p‹0.0001,p‹0.0001,p=0.00 3,p‹0.0001,p‹0.0001). Significant positive correlation between serum VEGF and patients’ age, inactivity stiffness, WOMAC, ESR and KL grade scale (p‹0.0001, p=0.005, p=0.001, p=0.001,p=0.010). Synovial fluid VEGF was the significant predictors for determining the function status (p‹0.0001); while for determining severity; synovial fluid VEGF, patients’ age and VAS were significant predictors (p‹0.0001,p=0.001 and p=0.029 respectively). Conclusion: Serum and synovial fluid VEGF correlated with the clinical features, functional status and radiological features of Knee OA. Synovial VEGF can predict both functional impact and radiological severity in patients with knee OA.","PeriodicalId":13740,"journal":{"name":"International Journal of Clinical Rheumatology","volume":"2 1","pages":""},"PeriodicalIF":0.0,"publicationDate":"2019-01-01","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"80265792","PeriodicalName":null,"FirstCategoryId":null,"ListUrlMain":null,"RegionNum":0,"RegionCategory":"","ArticlePicture":[],"TitleCN":null,"AbstractTextCN":null,"PMCID":"","EPubDate":null,"PubModel":null,"JCR":null,"JCRName":null,"Score":null,"Total":0}
A. Hamidieh, T. Rostami, M. Behfar, A. Ghavamzadeh
{"title":"Favorable outcome of allogenic hematopoietic stem cell transplantation in farber disease","authors":"A. Hamidieh, T. Rostami, M. Behfar, A. Ghavamzadeh","doi":"10.4172/1758-4272.1000204","DOIUrl":"https://doi.org/10.4172/1758-4272.1000204","url":null,"abstract":"Farber disease is a rare autosomal recessively inherited disorder caused by acid ceramidase deficiency. Painful subcutaneous skin nodules, progressive joint stiffness, and laryngeal involvement leading to a progressive hoarseness are the main characteristics of the disease. We report favorable outcome of hematopoietic stem cell transplantation after 24 months of follow up in a 2.7-years-old girl with Farber’s disease who was transplanted from her 49-years-old maternal grandfather resulting in resolution of her symptoms. Hematopoetic stem cell transplantation could provide sufficient amount of enzyme and accordingly diminish or stabilize the symptoms in these patients.","PeriodicalId":13740,"journal":{"name":"International Journal of Clinical Rheumatology","volume":"65 1","pages":"328"},"PeriodicalIF":0.0,"publicationDate":"2018-01-01","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"73081328","PeriodicalName":null,"FirstCategoryId":null,"ListUrlMain":null,"RegionNum":0,"RegionCategory":"","ArticlePicture":[],"TitleCN":null,"AbstractTextCN":null,"PMCID":"","EPubDate":null,"PubModel":null,"JCR":null,"JCRName":null,"Score":null,"Total":0}
{"title":"An unusual presentation of inflammatory myopathy in a patient on natalizumab treatment for multiple sclerosis: A case report and review of myopathological classification of inflammatory myopathy","authors":"B. Zulfiqar, J. Chua, S. Hassan","doi":"10.4172/1758-4272.1000185","DOIUrl":"https://doi.org/10.4172/1758-4272.1000185","url":null,"abstract":"Acquired immune and inflammatory myopathies (IIMs) are traditionally subdivided into dermatomyositis, polymyositis, inclusion body myositis (IBM) and necrotizing autoimmune myopathy (NAM). Our patient is a 38-year old female who had history of Multiple Sclerosis and was on Natalizumab. Almost a year later, she presented with acute proximal bilateral upper extremity weakness with elevated CPK. She was initially labeled as having ‘viral myositis’. Her subsequent two admissions demonstrated worsening of muscle weakness with dysphagia which was initially unresponsive to high dose of steroids. She had an EMG which showed irritative myopathy and a muscle biopsy which showed IMPP. She eventually responded to pulse dose of steroids and IVIG and Natalizumab was held. The temporal relationship between the development of inflammatory myopathy in our patient and subsequent improvement in her course after discontinuation of the drug suggests that natalizumab may have played a role in our patient’s disease and warrants further investigation and vigilance. In addition to the case report, we hope to elaborate on the myopathological descriptions increasingly being used to describe the IIMs and to explore the potential link between natalizumab and the onset of IIM in our patient.","PeriodicalId":13740,"journal":{"name":"International Journal of Clinical Rheumatology","volume":"212 1","pages":"197"},"PeriodicalIF":0.0,"publicationDate":"2018-01-01","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"73572735","PeriodicalName":null,"FirstCategoryId":null,"ListUrlMain":null,"RegionNum":0,"RegionCategory":"","ArticlePicture":[],"TitleCN":null,"AbstractTextCN":null,"PMCID":"","EPubDate":null,"PubModel":null,"JCR":null,"JCRName":null,"Score":null,"Total":0}
Gharbia Om, Elkhateeb As, Okasha Ae Abd El-Karim Sa
{"title":"Impact of obesity on rheumatoid arthritis: Relation with disease activity, joint damage, functional impairment and response to therapy","authors":"Gharbia Om, Elkhateeb As, Okasha Ae Abd El-Karim Sa","doi":"10.4172/1758-4272.1000209","DOIUrl":"https://doi.org/10.4172/1758-4272.1000209","url":null,"abstract":"Background and Aim of Work: The impact of Body Mass Index (BMI) on outcomes of Rheumatoid Arthritis (RA) is uncertain. This study aimed to evaluate the influence of obesity on Egyptian patients with RA. Methods: Medical records of 146 RA patients were reviewed. Patients were categorized into normalweight, overweight and obese groups based on BMI. The clinical and laboratory indices of RA activity, the Health Assessment Questionnaire (HAQ) and the radiographic damage score were compared among the groups at baseline, 8, 16 and 24 months. Results: DAS28 and HAQ score were matched at baseline but improved in the 3 groups thereafter, however, differences among the groups become significant only at 24-month. At the 24-month, DAS28 was significantly better in normal-weight (2.1 ± 1.0) and in overweight groups (2.2 ± 0.8) compared to obese group (2.7 ± 1.0) (normal-weight vs obese p=0.003 and overweight vs obese p= 0.006). At the 24-month, HAQ score was significantly better in normal-weight (0.78 ± 0.6) and in overweight groups (0.82 ± 0.5) compared to obese group (1.09 ± 0.7) (normal-weight vs obese p= 0.16 and overweight vs obese p= 0.041). The radiological Sharp-van der Heijde Score along the study period was lower in obese than in overweight or normal-weight patients, albeit the differences in the radiological score were insignificant among the groups. Conclusion: Obese patients were shown to have a poorer response rate to treatment in all outcome measures in comparison to the overweight and the normal-weight RA patients. Future research work is required to investigate whether weight reduction can decrease non-remission rate among the obese RA patients.","PeriodicalId":13740,"journal":{"name":"International Journal of Clinical Rheumatology","volume":"54 1","pages":"346"},"PeriodicalIF":0.0,"publicationDate":"2018-01-01","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"84318382","PeriodicalName":null,"FirstCategoryId":null,"ListUrlMain":null,"RegionNum":0,"RegionCategory":"","ArticlePicture":[],"TitleCN":null,"AbstractTextCN":null,"PMCID":"","EPubDate":null,"PubModel":null,"JCR":null,"JCRName":null,"Score":null,"Total":0}
Legosz P, Otworowski M, Sibilska A, Starszak K, Kotrych D, Synder M
{"title":"Heterotopic ossification: a challenging complication of total hip arthroplastyrisk factors, diagnosis, prophylaxis and treatment","authors":"Legosz P, Otworowski M, Sibilska A, Starszak K, Kotrych D, Synder M","doi":"10.4172/1758-4272.1000189","DOIUrl":"https://doi.org/10.4172/1758-4272.1000189","url":null,"abstract":"Background: This review is intended to summaries the risk factors, classification, diagnosis and treatment of heterotopic ossification (HO) of previously published studies. Results: Heterotopic Ossification is a common complication of total hip arthroplasty. Its prevalence isn’t the same in all of the patient groups. Frequency of HO varies from 15% to 90%. Hip ankylosis, male gender and previous history of HO are said to be risk factors with a significant level. Diagnosis is based on a single AP radiograph-the Brooker classification that divides HO into four grades is the most commonly used. The confirmation test that can be used is a bone scan. A great amount of bone metabolic turnover markers have been tested, but none of them seems to be relevant in case of prevention or diagnosis of HO. The most effective prophylactic treatment is radiotherapy or administration of nonsteroidal anti-inflammatory drugs. Over the years a lot of different RT protocols has been tested. Nowadays the most often used regimen is 7 Gy given postoperatively in a single dose. The most commonly prescribed drug in prophylaxis of HO is indomethacin. Also, the efficacy of ibuprofen and diclofenac were proven. Recently researchers focused on selective COX-2 inhibitors. They appear to be as effective as nonselective NSAIDs having less side effects. The one and only treatment of HO is a revision arthroplasty.","PeriodicalId":13740,"journal":{"name":"International Journal of Clinical Rheumatology","volume":"52 1","pages":"218"},"PeriodicalIF":0.0,"publicationDate":"2018-01-01","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"81399970","PeriodicalName":null,"FirstCategoryId":null,"ListUrlMain":null,"RegionNum":0,"RegionCategory":"","ArticlePicture":[],"TitleCN":null,"AbstractTextCN":null,"PMCID":"","EPubDate":null,"PubModel":null,"JCR":null,"JCRName":null,"Score":null,"Total":0}
M. Haroon, S. Sayed, A. Al-ghitany, Haitham Ezzat Tamer A Gheita
{"title":"Rheumatic and musculoskeletal manifestations in renal hemodialysis patients","authors":"M. Haroon, S. Sayed, A. Al-ghitany, Haitham Ezzat Tamer A Gheita","doi":"10.4172/1758-42721000196","DOIUrl":"https://doi.org/10.4172/1758-42721000196","url":null,"abstract":"Objectives: To determine the frequency of Rheumatic and Musculoskeletal Diseases (RMDs) in patients with renal failure on regular hemodialysis. Methods and findings: The present study included forty-nine patients (28 males and 21 females) with renal failure on regular hemodialysis. Full history taking and clinical examination were documented for all patients. Blood samples were collected for laboratory investigations before the mid-week session. Dual Energy X-ray Absorptiometry (DXA) was performed to all patients to assess bone mineral density (BMD). Kt/V was used as a marker of dialysis adequacy. Mean age for all patients was 54.41 ± 15.9 years, and the dialysis duration was 3 ± 2.3 years. The detected RMDs included (in order of descending frequency): fibromyalgia syndrome (51%), myalgias (37%), arthralgia (37%), flexor tenosynovitis (29%), cramps (29%), ectopic calcifications (25%), flexion deformity of the elbow (16%), carpal tunnel syndrome (14%), destructive spondyloarthritis (8%) and Vasculitis (4.1%). Positive anti-CCP was detected in 1 female and rheumatoid factor in 4 females and 1 male. The BMD was reduced with the DXA t-score at lumbosacral spine, hip and forearm -1.5 ± 1.8, -1.7 ± 1.6, -1.9 ± 1.9 respectively. Overall, there was a tendency to a higher frequency of musculoskeletal findings in males. Other co-morbidities included: diabetes mellitus (45%), hypertension (96%), cardiovascular (33%), cerebrovascular stroke (6%), hyperuricemia (37%), hepatitis C (16%) and amyloidosis (8%). Conclusion: Rheumatic and musculoskeletal diseases are frequent and overlooked among hemodialysis patients especially males and usually associated with chronic pain.","PeriodicalId":13740,"journal":{"name":"International Journal of Clinical Rheumatology","volume":"4 1","pages":"263"},"PeriodicalIF":0.0,"publicationDate":"2018-01-01","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"82906650","PeriodicalName":null,"FirstCategoryId":null,"ListUrlMain":null,"RegionNum":0,"RegionCategory":"","ArticlePicture":[],"TitleCN":null,"AbstractTextCN":null,"PMCID":"","EPubDate":null,"PubModel":null,"JCR":null,"JCRName":null,"Score":null,"Total":0}