Rheumatology
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Randomized Controlled Trial Multicenter Study
Treatment of complex regional pain syndrome type I with neridronate: a randomized, double-blind, placebo-controlled study.
Complex regional pain syndrome type I (CRPS-I) is a severely disabling pain syndrome for which no definite treatment has been established. The aim of this multi-centre, randomized, double-blind placebo-controlled trial was to test the efficacy of the amino-bisphosphonate neridronate in patients with CRP-I. ⋯ In patients with acute CRPS-I, four i.v. infusions of neridronate 100 mg are associated with clinically relevant and persistent benefits. These results provide conclusive evidence that the use of bisphosphonates, at appropriate doses, is the treatment of choice for CRPS-I.
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Optimal care in RA includes early use of DMARDs to prevent joint damage and hopefully decrease the need for costly surgical interventions. Our objective was to determine whether a reduced rate of orthopaedic surgery was evident for persons with RA who saw a rheumatologist early in the disease course. ⋯ Persons with RA who consult a rheumatologist later in the disease course have a worse outcome in terms of eventual requirement for orthopaedic surgery.