Scandinavian journal of rheumatology
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Scand. J. Rheumatol. · Jan 2002
Case ReportsNodular fasciitis, erythema migrans, and oligoarthritis: manifestations of Lyme borreliosis caused by Borrelia afzelii.
We describe a 35-year old patient with nodular fasciitis, erythema migrans, and gonarthritis four months after a bite of a Borrelia afzelii infected tick. The Borrelia afzelii infection was identified by a polymerase chain reaction and direct sequencing of the amplification product. Borrelia-specific DNA was also detectable in nodular fasciitis tissue. We therefore conclude that Borrelia afzelii can be a causative agent of nodular fasciitis and Lyme arthritis in a highly endemic region of Northern Germany.
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Scand. J. Rheumatol. · Jan 2001
Randomized Controlled Trial Comparative Study Clinical TrialCelecoxib versus diclofenac in the management of osteoarthritis of the knee.
A clinical trial was conducted in 600 patients with OA of the knee to test the hypothesis that the specific COX-2 inhibitor, celecoxib, has equivalent efficacy and a superior tolerability/safety profile when compared to diclofenac, the current worldwide standard of care. ⋯ Celecoxib 200 mg daily is as effective as diclofenac 150 mg daily for relieving signs and symptoms of OA of the knee, including pain, and has a rapid onset of action. However, celecoxib appears to have a superior safety and tolerability profile.
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Scand. J. Rheumatol. · Jan 2001
Transesophageal and transthoracic echocardiography and Doppler-examinations in systemic lupus erythematosus.
To search for cardiac abnormalities in systemic lupus erythematosus (SLE). ⋯ Valve masses and valve thickening--often in combination--are the most frequent structural findings in SLE, occurring more often on the aortic than on the mitral valves. Factors other than antiphospholipid antibodies, medication, hypertension, or coronary heart disease seem to be responsible for this phenomenon. Drugs that modulate inflammation in endo- and pericardial tissue may, at least in part, be responsible for the observed mitral valve calcifications and pericardial fibrosis.
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Scand. J. Rheumatol. · Jan 2000
Health-related quality of life in primary Sjögren's syndrome, rheumatoid arthritis and fibromyalgia compared to normal population data using SF-36.
To investigate the health-related quality of life in women with primary Sjogren's syndrome (prim SS) and compare with normative data and the health-related quality of life in women with rheumatoid arthritis (RA) and women with fibromyalgia. ⋯ The health-related quality of life was significantly decreased as compared to norms in prim SS women and comparable to the levels of women with RA and fibromyalgia.
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Scand. J. Rheumatol. · Jan 2000
Case ReportsExtracorporeal membrane oxygenation for the management of respiratory failure due to ANCA-associated vasculitis.
We present here two patients whose near fatal respiratory distress was caused by pulmonary hemorrhage, and who were treated successfully by extracorporeal membrane oxygenation (ECMO). The underlying disease was anti-neutrophil cytoplasmic antibody (ANCA)-associated systemic vasculitis. ⋯ After several days, the pulmonary hemorrhage subsided, and the patients were weaned successfully from ECMO. We suggest that ECMO may be used to manage life-threatening pulmonary hemorrhage in patients suffering from ANCA-associated systemic vasculitis.