J Rheumatol
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To describe the frequency of abnormal bone mineralization in a population of children with juvenile systemic lupus erythematosus (JSLE), juvenile dermatomyositis (JDM), and systemic vasculitis; and to investigate the relationship of bone mineral density (BMD) to cumulative corticosteroid dose, disease duration, Tanner stage, calcium intake, and exercise in these patients. ⋯ Decreased bone density is common in children with SLE and other systemic rheumatic diseases. Age, corticosteroid dose, and pubertal stage all appear to have some influence on bone mass in these children.
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To compare the levels of disability and disease activity in African-Americans and Caucasians with rheumatoid arthritis (RA) in an academic medical center practice, and to determine whether the differences are independently associated with ethnicity. ⋯ HAQ disability and RA disease activity were higher in African-Americans than Caucasians in this sample from an academic medical center practice. However, ethnicity was not independently associated with these outcomes when socioeconomic and psychological factors were taken into account. Improvement in self-efficacy has the potential to improve outcome in African-Americans with RA.
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Comment Letter Case Reports
Successful treatment of rheumatoid vasculitis-associated foot-drop with infliximab.