Annals of the rheumatic diseases
-
Randomized Controlled Trial Comparative Study Clinical Trial
Comparison of the caudal and lumbar approaches to the epidural space.
To investigate the accuracy of placement of epidural injections using the lumbar and caudal approaches. To identify which factors, if any, predicted successful placement. ⋯ The weight of the patient and intended approach need to be considered when deciding the method used to enter the epidural space. In the non-obese patient, lumbar epidural injections can be accurately placed without x ray screening, but caudal epidural injections, to be placed accurately, require x ray screening no matter what the weight of the patient.
-
To determine circulating endothelin-1 levels (ET-1) in patients with primary or secondary associated Raynaud's phenomenon (RP) under resting conditions and in response to cold provocation. ⋯ These results do not support the hypothesis that ET-1 plays a part in the pathogenesis of RP. Objective testing is a useful adjunct to the clinical diagnosis of RP and allows assignment of a severity grade.
-
Comparative Study
Fatigue in primary Sjögren's syndrome: is there a link with the fibromyalgia syndrome?
To determine whether fibromyalgia (FM) is more common in patients with primary Sjögren's syndrome (pSS) who complain of fatigue. The association and prevalence of fatigue and FM was recorded in a group of patients with pSS and a control group of lupus patients, a subset of whom had secondary Sjögren's syndrome (sSS). ⋯ The results show that fatigue in patients with pSS and sSS is not due to the coexistence of FM in most cases. A lower incidence in the United Kingdom of FM in patients with pSS was found than has been previously reported.