Arthritis and rheumatism
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Arthritis and rheumatism · Nov 2003
Comparative StudyUse of positron emission tomography with methyl-11C-choline and 2-18F-fluoro-2-deoxy-D-glucose in comparison with magnetic resonance imaging for the assessment of inflammatory proliferation of synovium.
To compare positron emission tomography (PET) and magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) in the evaluation of inflammatory proliferation of synovium. ⋯ In the use of PET scans,(11)C-choline can be regarded as a promising tracer for quantitative imaging of proliferative arthritis changes. Nevertheless, subsequent prospective studies with larger numbers of patients are necessary to further characterize the relationship between the findings on PET imaging and the clinical and functional measures of inflammation.
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Arthritis and rheumatism · Nov 2003
Randomized Controlled Trial Comparative Study Clinical TrialComparing the efficacy of cyclooxygenase 2-specific inhibitors in treating osteoarthritis: appropriate trial design considerations and results of a randomized, placebo-controlled trial.
To compare the efficacy of the cyclooxygenase 2 (COX-2)-specific inhibitors celecoxib and rofecoxib in treating the signs and symptoms of osteoarthritis (OA). ⋯ Celecoxib 200 mg/day and rofecoxib 25 mg/day are equally efficacious in treating the signs and symptoms of OA.
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Arthritis and rheumatism · Oct 2003
Subgrouping of fibromyalgia patients on the basis of pressure-pain thresholds and psychological factors.
Although the American College of Rheumatology (ACR) criteria for fibromyalgia are used to identify individuals with both widespread pain and tenderness, individuals who meet these criteria are not a homogeneous group. Patients differ in their accompanying clinical symptoms, as well as in the relative contributions of biologic, psychological, and cognitive factors to their symptom expression. Therefore, it seems useful to identify subsets of fibromyalgia patients on the basis of which of these factors are present. Previous attempts at identifying subsets have been based solely on psychological and cognitive features. In this study, we attempt to identify patient subsets by incorporating these features as well as the degree of hyperalgesia/tenderness, which is a key neurobiologic feature of this illness. ⋯ These data help support the clinical impression that there are distinct subgroups of patients with fibromyalgia. There appears to be a group of fibromyalgia patients who exhibit extreme tenderness but lack any associated psychological/cognitive factors, an intermediate group who display moderate tenderness and have normal mood, and a group in whom mood and cognitive factors may be significantly influencing the symptom report.
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To determine factors associated with, and the predictors of, widespread body pain in children. ⋯ Children who report behavioral problems or other somatic symptoms are at increased risk, at least in the short term, of developing chronic widespread pain. It remains to be determined whether these are long-term risk factors for the onset of such symptoms, and whether they could be predictors of the development of other functional syndromes.