Arthritis and rheumatism
-
Arthritis and rheumatism · Aug 2005
Glucocorticoid use and serum lipid levels in US adults: the Third National Health and Nutrition Examination Survey.
It has been generally perceived that glucocorticoids adversely affect serum lipid levels, although results of prospective studies have suggested the contrary. In this study, we sought to examine the relationship between glucocorticoid use and lipid profiles in a nationally representative sample of subjects. ⋯ Our results suggest that glucocorticoid use is not associated with an adverse lipid profile in the US population and may be associated with a favorable lipid profile among persons ages 60 years or older, in concordance with previous prospective studies.
-
Arthritis and rheumatism · Aug 2005
Randomized Controlled Trial Clinical TrialA randomized, double-blind, placebo-controlled trial of pramipexole, a dopamine agonist, in patients with fibromyalgia receiving concomitant medications.
To assess the efficacy and safety of pramipexole, a dopamine 3 receptor agonist, in patients with fibromyalgia. ⋯ In a subset of patients with fibromyalgia, approximately 50% of whom required narcotic analgesia and/or were disabled, treatment with pramipexole improved scores on assessments of pain, fatigue, function, and global status, and was safe and well-tolerated.
-
Arthritis and rheumatism · Jul 2005
Association of cartilage defects with loss of knee cartilage in healthy, middle-age adults: a prospective study.
The significance of asymptomatic knee cartilage defects in healthy individuals is not known. The aim of this study was to examine the association between cartilage defects in the knee and cartilage volume both cross-sectionally and longitudinally in healthy, middle-age adults. ⋯ These data suggest that the presence of asymptomatic, non-full-thickness medial tibiofemoral cartilage defects identifies healthy individuals most likely to lose knee cartilage in the absence of radiographic knee OA. Thus, interventions aimed at reducing or reversing cartilage defects may reduce the risk of subsequent knee OA.
-
Arthritis and rheumatism · Jul 2005
Systemic lupus erythematosus in a multiethnic US cohort (LUMINA). XXV. Smoking, older age, disease activity, lupus anticoagulant, and glucocorticoid dose as risk factors for the occurrence of venous thrombosis in lupus patients.
Venous thrombosis is a relatively frequent and serious complication in systemic lupus erythematosus (SLE) that has been associated with the presence of antiphospholipid antibodies (aPL). However, venous thrombotic events can also be seen in patients without aPL, and only a few patients with aPL develop venous thrombosis. This study was carried out to ascertain other factors contributing to the development of venous thrombosis in SLE. ⋯ Venous thrombotic events occur early in the course of SLE. Our data confirm the association between LAC and venous thrombotic events. Smoking, shorter disease duration, older age, disease activity over time, and higher mean daily glucocorticoid dose were identified as additional risk factors for the development of this vascular complication. These findings may have implications for the management of patients with SLE.
-
Arthritis and rheumatism · Jul 2005
Randomized Controlled Trial Clinical TrialWeight loss reduces knee-joint loads in overweight and obese older adults with knee osteoarthritis.
To determine the relationship between change in body mass and knee-joint moments and forces during walking in overweight and obese older adults with knee osteoarthritis (OA) following an 18-month clinical trial of diet and exercise. ⋯ Our results indicate that each pound of weight lost will result in a 4-fold reduction in the load exerted on the knee per step during daily activities. Accumulated over thousands of steps per day, a reduction of this magnitude would appear to be clinically meaningful.