Arthritis and rheumatism
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Arthritis and rheumatism · Jan 2009
Case ReportsSuccessful treatment of idiopathic recurrent pericarditis in children with interleukin-1beta receptor antagonist (anakinra): an unrecognized autoinflammatory disease?
Recurrent pericarditis occurs in association with various medical conditions, but in most cases the condition appears to be idiopathic. Although high-dose steroid treatment is often effective, it may have serious side effects. ⋯ Idiopathic recurrent pericarditis shares several features with autoinflammatory diseases, and anakinra has been efficacious in the treatment of the latter diseases. The findings in these patients suggest that idiopathic recurrent pericarditis may be a previously unrecognized autoinflammatory disease.
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Arthritis and rheumatism · Dec 2008
White and gray matter abnormalities in the brain of patients with fibromyalgia: a diffusion-tensor and volumetric imaging study.
To use a combination of magnetic resonance diffusion-tensor imaging (MR-DTI) and MR imaging of voxel-based morphometry (MR-VBM) in patients with fibromyalgia syndrome (FMS) to determine microstructural and volume changes in the central neuronal networks involved in the sensory-discriminative and affective-motivational characteristics of pain, anxiety, memory, and regulation of the stress response. ⋯ MR-DTI allows the visualization of microstructural changes in the brain of patients with FMS, appears to be more sensitive than MR-VBM, and may serve as an additional diagnostic technique in FMS and probably other dysfunctional pain syndromes.
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Arthritis and rheumatism · Nov 2008
Cognitive and neurologic status in patients with systemic lupus erythematosus without major neuropsychiatric syndromes.
To examine neuropsychological and neurologic functioning in systemic lupus erythematosus (SLE) patients without histories of overt neuropsychiatric disorders (non-NPSLE patients). ⋯ The utility of a standardized neurologic examination in SLE for excluding overt neurologic dysfunction and assuring a non-NPSLE group selection was demonstrated. In contrast to our earlier study, we did not find differences between non-NPSLE patients and controls on the CII. Slightly lower CII scores in non-NPSLE patients and higher CII scores in controls may have reduced cognitive differences between these groups. Non-NPSLE patients demonstrate specific decline in the areas of attention, memory, and reasoning; continued studies of associated brain regions are warranted.
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Arthritis and rheumatism · Nov 2008
Randomized Controlled Trial Multicenter StudyEffects of febuxostat versus allopurinol and placebo in reducing serum urate in subjects with hyperuricemia and gout: a 28-week, phase III, randomized, double-blind, parallel-group trial.
To compare the urate-lowering efficacy and safety of febuxostat, allopurinol, and placebo in a large group of subjects with hyperuricemia and gout, including persons with impaired renal function. ⋯ At all doses studied, febuxostat more effectively lowered and maintained serum urate levels <6.0 mg/dl than did allopurinol (300 or 100 mg) or placebo in subjects with hyperuricemia and gout, including those with mild to moderately impaired renal function.
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Arthritis and rheumatism · Nov 2008
Multicenter StudyActive or passive pain coping strategies in hip and knee osteoarthritis? Results of a national survey of 4,719 patients in a primary care setting.
To study pain coping strategies in patients with hip and knee osteoarthritis (OA), and to assess the psychometric qualities of the French version of the Pain Coping Inventory (PCI). ⋯ The PCI has good structural validity and is highly suitable for analyzing active and passive pain coping strategies in OA. In OA, active and passive coping strategies differ significantly as a function of age, body mass index, OA involvement, professional and marital status, sport activities, and OA duration, with pain intensity having a weaker effect.