Seminars in arthritis and rheumatism
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Semin. Arthritis Rheum. · Apr 2015
Review Meta AnalysisThe association between lumbar spine radiographic features and low back pain: a systematic review and meta-analysis.
Low back pain (LBP) is a prevalent musculoskeletal condition and represents a substantial socioeconomic burden. Plain film radiography is a commonly used imaging technique. Radiographic features (RFs) such as disc space narrowing, osteophytes, spondylosis, endplate sclerosis, spondylolisthesis, and facet joint osteoarthritis have all been debated as potential pain generators in the lumbar spine. The aim of this study is to (1) determine the association between LBP and lumbar spine RFs in both community- and occupation-based groups and (2) to determine if there are differences in these associations between these two groups. ⋯ A significant association was found between disc space narrowing in both community- and occupational-based populations without significant differences between the associations. A significant strong association was found between spondylolisthesis and LBP among the occupational group but was weakly associated in the community-based group, which supports that spondylolisthesis may contribute a specific cause for LBP.
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Semin. Arthritis Rheum. · Apr 2015
Review Meta AnalysisCoronary artery disease in giant cell arteritis: a systematic review and meta-analysis.
To investigate the association between giant cell arteritis (GCA) and risk of coronary artery disease (CAD). ⋯ In contrast to other chronic systemic inflammatory disorders, our meta-analysis did not show any statistically significant increased risk of CAD among patients with GCA.