Acta Reumatol Port
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Case Reports
Ultrasound-guided core biopsy of the parotid gland: the procedure from the Rheumatology point of view.
Ultrasound-guided core biopsy is a minimally invasive technique able to identify lymphoma accompanying Sjögren syndrome, neoplasms or infiltrative diseases, with less complications compared to open biopsy. With these images, we aim to describe the ultrasound-guided core biopsy procedure, in a female patient with rheumatoid arthritis who presented evident inhomogeneity of the parotid gland. The procedure was performed by rheumatologists, trained in ultrasonography of the salivary glands, demonstrating that ultrasound-guided core biopsy is an easy and safe method to obtain salivary gland tissue.
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To compare the effectiveness of a 2nd TNF inhibitor (TNFi), Tocilizumab (TCZ) and Rituximab (RTX), measured by drug retention and by response rates, in RA patients after discontinuing a first-line TNFi and to clarify the reasons and predictors for discontinuation of a second-line biologic. ⋯ Our findings showed a significantly higher drug retention for TCZ and RTX, compared with 2nd TNFi, and similar persistence among TCZ and RTX, in patients who discontinued a first-line TNFi. These data corroborate the notion that switching to a biologic with a different mode of action is more effective than to a second TNFi.
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Obesity is a moderate low-grade chronic inflammatory condition. The cause of low-grade inflammation in obese patients who have clinically suspect arthralgia (CSA) may be the subject of debate in clinical practice. Our aim is to determine whether inflammation is associated with obesity or rheumatic disease, and the association between leptin, chemerin, visfatin and inflammatory markers in obese patients with/without musculoskeletal symptoms. ⋯ Visfatin and chemerin correlated with inflammation and may be useful indicators of undifferentiated inflammatory arthritis in obese patients with CSA.
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To translate and culturally adapt the Oxford Shoulder Score (OSS) to the European Portuguese language, and to test its reliability (internal consistency, reproducibility and measurement error) and validity (construct validity). ⋯ The Portuguese OSS version presented suitable psychometric properties, in terms of reliability (internal consistency, reproducibility and measurement error) and validity (construct validity).