Rheumatology
-
Multicenter Study
User perspectives of transitional care for adolescents with juvenile idiopathic arthritis.
To gain insight into the transitional needs of adolescents with juvenile idiopathic arthritis (JIA) and to examine how these needs may be addressed within a structured programme of transitional care. ⋯ These results provide a useful guide to transitional care and suggest an approach that is adolescent-focused and evidence-based.
-
To evaluate the measurement properties of an evidence-based selection of measures of spinal mobility in patients with ankylosing spondylitis (AS). ⋯ All mobility measures had adequate levels of reliability and validity. The MSI had a strong relationship with all mobility measures, and the FFD and Crot were the most responsive to self-perceived changes in health at 6 months. The MSI, FFD and Crot are recommended for clinical practice and research.
-
Microvascular lesions are a predominant feature in systemic sclerosis (SSc) and seem to play a central pathogenetic role. Recently, we graded scleroderma microangiopathy by nailfold videocapillaroscopy (NVC) into three NVC patterns (early, active and late). The aim of the present study was to confirm, in a larger number of SSc patients, the presence of three patterns of microvascular damage, and to detect any possible relationship between these patterns and both specific serum autoantibodies and the subsets of cutaneous involvement. ⋯ NVC is an appropriate tool for differential diagnosis between primary and secondary RP through the clear recognition of the early NVC scleroderma pattern. This study confirms, in a large number of SSc patients, the existence of three distinct NVC patterns that might reflect the evolution of SSc microangiopathy. The presence of anti-Scl70 antibodies seems be related to earlier expression of the active and late NVC patterns of SSc microvascular damage. The presence of ACA seems to be related to delayed expression of the late NVC pattern.
-
Randomized Controlled Trial Multicenter Study Clinical Trial
Celecoxib 200 mg q.d. is efficacious in the management of osteoarthritis of the knee or hip regardless of the time of dosing.
The primary objective was to demonstrate equivalence between a.m. and p.m. dosing of celecoxib 200 mg q.d. An equivalence assessment of q.d. vs b.i.d. dosing was a secondary objective. ⋯ Regardless of the time of day at which celecoxib 200 mg q.d. is administered, patients are equally satisfied with the pain relief, ability to walk and bend, and willingness to continue medication.
-
Case Reports
Pulmonary involvement in childhood-onset systemic lupus erythematosus: a report of five cases.
Systemic lupus erythematosus (SLE) is a chronic systemic disease, which can involve multiple organs such as kidney, skin and brain. Lung is another organ that can be affected. A number of pulmonary complications including pleuritis, pneumonitis, infectious pneumonia, pulmonary haemorrhage, pulmonary hypertension and pneumothorax have been reported in patients with SLE. Pulmonary involvement is relatively frequent in adult patients; it has infrequently been reported in children with SLE. However, pulmonary manifestations may be an initial and/or life-threatening complication of SLE in children. In this paper we aim to emphasize the pulmonary involvement in childhood-onset SLE via description of our patients. ⋯ During the 10-yr study period, 16 patients were diagnosed with childhood-onset SLE. Five of them (31%) had pulmonary involvement including acute lupus pneumonitis, invasive pulmonary aspergillosis, cytomegalovirus pneumonia and pulmonary haemorrhage (in two patients). These 5 patients with lupus lung disease are presented in more detail.