Reumatismo
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To evaluate therapy and rheumatologic aspects of recurrent acute idiopathic pericarditis (RAIP). ⋯ NSAIDs at high dosage, slow tapering of corticosteroid and colchicine are very effective in RAIP. The improvement is more dramatic in colchicine treated patients, but also other patients can achieve good control of the disease. The finding of ANA, anti-SSA and the new rheumatological diagnoses support the involvement of autoimmunity.
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Several tools have been introduced in clinical trials to quantify the severity and the response to a given therapeutic regimen of both psoriasis and psoriatic arthritis. Each method present specific advantages and limitations. Here we will discuss some of the most popular clinical outcome measures of both psoriasis (Psoriasis Severity Index, Physician Global Assessment, National Psoriasis Fundation-Psoriasis Score, Dermatology Life Quality Index) and psoriatic arthritis (American College Rheumatology response criteria, Psoriatic Arthritis Response Criteria).
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Patients with rheumatoid arthritis (RA) have a reduced life expectancy and high cardiovascular morbidity and mortality as compared to the general population. A number of possible factors for the atherogenesis in this disease have been described, such as homocysteine, altered serum levels of selected lipoproteins and treatment. Recent findings indicate that the systemic inflammation may contribute to the development of atherosclerosis and confer an additional risk for cardiovascular death among patients with RA. The aim of our study was to evaluate the ability of high resolution Bmode ultrasound and color Doppler to assess the existence of subclinical atherosclerosis in RA patients, measuring the intima-media thickness (IMT) and resistance index of the common carotid arteries. ⋯ Our results confirm an accelerated atherosclerosis, as shown by increased common carotid IMT, in patients with RA compared with controls and it is related mainly to lipid levels. High-resolution B-mode ultrasound may be considered a promising, sensitive and non invasive tool for assessing the existence of subclinical atherosclerosis in RA patients.