Rheumatology international
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Physical therapy in ankylosing spondylitis (AS) is important for maintaining or improving mobility, fitness, functioning, and global health. It also plays a role in the prevention and management of structural deformities. In this study we assessed the functional status of AS patients in relation to disease duration and activity. ⋯ In AS, pain intensity recorded on a 10-cm visual analog scale (VAS), BASFI, BASDAI, modified Schober index, chest expansion and occiput-to-wall distance values showed significant correlation with disease activity. The 3-month physical therapy improved several subjective and functional parameters, and markedly reduced pain intensity and spine stiffness. A complex, individualized physical therapy program may be useful and should be introduced to AS patients in order to maintain and increase spine mobility, preserve functional capacity, decrease the pain and stiffness.
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Review Case Reports
Rheumatologic diseases and posterior reversible encephalopathy syndrome: two case reports and review of the literature.
Rheumatologic diseases have varied clinical presentations, and posterior reversible encephalopathy syndrome (PRES) can be one of their presentations. The exact etiology of PRES is unknown, but endothelial dysfunction and immunosuppressive medications seem to be the likely cause in rheumatologic diseases. Clinical features include headaches, seizures, altered mental status, cortical blindness, vomiting, and focal neurologic deficits. ⋯ Out of the 48 case reports, 38 patients had systemic lupus erythematosus and most of them had renal disease. Five patients with autoimmune diseases presented with PRES after being started on immunomodulatory drugs. The most frequent symptoms were headache, seizures, and visual changes.
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Fatigue is a frequent symptom during ankylosing spondylitis (AS) often under estimated which needs to be measured properly with respect to its intensity by appropriate measures, such as the multidimensional assessment of fatigue (MAF). The aims of this study were to translate into the classic Arabic version of the MAF questionnaire and to validate its use for assessing fatigue in Moroccan patients with AS. The MAF contains 16 items with a global fatigue index (IGF). ⋯ The construct validity showed a positive correlation between MAF and the axial (r = 0.34) and peripheral (r = 0.32) visual analogical scale, the Bath ankylosing spondylitis disease activity index (BASDAI) (r = 0.77), the first item of BASDAI (r = 0.85), the functional disability by the Bath ankylosing spondylitis functional index (r = 0.64), the erythrocyte sedimentation rate (r = 0.43) and the C reactive protein (r = 0.30) (for all P < 0.001). There was no statistical correlation between MAF and the other variables. The Arabic version of the MAF has good comprehensibility, internal consistency, reliability and validity for the evaluation of Arabic speaking patients with AS.
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Hoarseness due to left recurrent laryngeal nerve paralysis (LRLN) caused by identifiable cardiovascular disease is described as Ortner's syndrome or cardiovocal syndrome. This was first reported by Ortner in 1897 to describe left recurrent laryngeal nerve palsy secondary to mitral stenosis. This case report describe a patient with giant cell arteritis with initial presentation of Ortner's syndrome.
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Personality may play an important role in the development and initiation of fibromyalgia (FM). It may also be used for individualized treatment planning. We aimed to assess personality profiles of FM patients and to evaluate the association of personality profiles with education, symptom severity, depression, anxiety, and functioning. ⋯ A negative correlation has been found between SD scores and depression scores. The study suggests that FM patients have distinctive temperament and character profile compared with healthy controls. FM patients tend to have high HA, high ST, and low SD scores.