Modern rheumatology
-
Modern rheumatology · May 2013
Anti-CADM-140/MDA5 autoantibody titer correlates with disease activity and predicts disease outcome in patients with dermatomyositis and rapidly progressive interstitial lung disease.
We examined the relationship between disease activity and anti-CADM-140/MDA5 titer measured by enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay (ELISA). ⋯ These results emphasize the clinical importance of anti-CADM-140/MDA5 antibody levels to predict outcomes of RP-ILD as well as to monitor disease activity in patients with DM and RP-ILD.
-
Modern rheumatology · Apr 2013
Prevalence of low back pain as the primary pain site and factors associated with low health-related quality of life in a large Japanese population: a pain-associated cross-sectional epidemiological survey.
This study aimed to estimate the prevalence, magnitude, and direction of the associations among disability, pain intensity, number of pain sites, and health-related quality of life (HRQoL) in patients reporting low back pain (LBP) as their primary pain. ⋯ Approximately 13.5 % of patients reported LBP as their primary pain. Disability with absence from social activity and ≥7 pain sites were strongly associated with low HRQoL.
-
Modern rheumatology · Mar 2013
Clinical significance of monitoring serum adiponectin levels during intravenous pulse cyclophosphamide therapy in interstitial lung disease associated with systemic sclerosis.
To investigate the clinical significance of monitoring serum adiponectin levels during intravenous pulse cyclophosphamide (IVCY) in systemic sclerosis (SSc) patients with interstitial lung disease (ILD). ⋯ The monitoring of serum adiponectin levels during the IVCY treatment may be useful to identify SSc patients with ILD refractory to the treatment and at high risk for exacerbations during the follow-up period.
-
Modern rheumatology · Jan 2013
Case ReportsA case of MPO- and PR3-ANCA-positive hypertrophic cranial pachymeningitis with elevated serum IgG4.
We report a case of orbital tumor and hypertrophic cranial pachymeningitis in a 64-year-old woman, who was initially suspected to have IgG4-related disease because of an elevated level of serum IgG4 at onset. However, her condition was resistant to glucocorticoid therapy, and additional cyclophosphamide was necessary to control the disease activity. ⋯ Instead, rupture of the elastic layer of the arterial walls with neovascularization and a small number of giant cells were observed. Considering these findings and the clinical course, the disease was considered more likely to be ANCA-associated pachymeningitis with elevation of the serum IgG4 level.
-
Modern rheumatology · Sep 2012
Comparative StudyValidation of an Italian version of the functional index for hand osteoarthritis (FIHOA).
To translate the functional index for hand osteoarthritis (FIHOA) into Italian and to evaluate its reliability and validity in Italian patients with hand osteoarthritis (HOA). ⋯ The Italian version of FIHOA is a reliable and valid instrument for evaluating functional disability in Italian-speaking HOA patients.