Current Rheumatology Reviews - Volume 10, Issue 2, 2014

Systemic Lupus Erythematosus (SLE) is a multisystem autoimmune disease affecting millions of people worldwide. It can affect any organ systems of the body. However, all systems may not be involved initially rather than they may be affected gradually, sometimes over years. Diagnosis depends on characteristic clinical features and laboratory test results. Some features such as skin rash, joint symptoms and oral ulcers Read More

Recent publications have proposed revisions to disease classification criteria, new definitions of early diagnosis and remission, as well as guidelines for implementing treat-to-target strategies for the management of patients with spondyloarthritis. Despite developments leading to this practice-changing approach, the concept of treat to target for spondyloarthritis has not yet been widely accepted or implemented in standard cli Read More

The term overlap syndromes (OS) is used to define a group of disorders characterized by the presence, in the same patient, of clinical features typical for more than one definite connective tissue disease (CTD). Objective: To show that patients may not only have an overlap of two or more CTDs but may also change their disease phenotype from that of a definite CTD to another. Patients and methods: Retrospective analysis Read More

Monitoring treatment effects can inform both the physician and patient whether the medication has achieved its anticipated targets. There are several variances between patients cohorts included in clinical trials and subjects managed in standard clinical setting. Therefore, defining a patient as a “responder” or “non-responder” to management might not be applicable in day to day care, in particular in patients suffering from Read More

The human wrist is a composite joint which incorporates multiple smaller joints. The biomechanics of the wrist are dependent on its bony structure but also on the ligamentous constitution of its joints. This increases the complexity of the joint and reduces our ability to understand its anatomy, mechanics and pathology. Therefore, our understanding and treatment of osteoarthritis in the wrist lags behind that of other joints in th Read More

Aim: The aim of this review is to update the knowledge about the Kawasaki disease (KD) which includes the way of early detection and latest treatment plan for the disease. Method: A number of literatures were reviewed and latest information about the etiology, diagnosis, laboratory investigation, treatment and outcome of the disease was collected and depicted in the review article. Result: Kawasaki disease is a multi Read More

Background: Generalized Joint Hypermobility (GJH) is regarded as the main diagnostic criterion for Hypermobility Syndrome and is assumed to be of importance for the development of musculoskeletal complaints and functional decline. However GJH is also highly prevalent amongst healthy individuals whereas its consequences for physical functioning are unclear. Therefore the objective of the study was to determine the ass Read More

Aim of the work: The aim of the present work was to study the role of vascular surgery in the management of primary vasculitis patients with peripheral ischemic manifestations. Patients and methods: Ten primary vasculitis patients with peripheral ischemic manifestations were studied and reviewed for the diagnosis, clinical manifestations, investigations, treatment options and role of vascular surgery. The Birmingham Vasc Read More

Serum cartilage oligomeric matrix protein (COMP) level is a new marker of joint destruction in patients with rheumatoid arthritis (RA), and a new means of identifying patients with progressive joint damage. To evaluate the effect of tocilizumab (TCZ) on serum COMP levels, and whether there is any difference in this effect between patients failing on anti-TNF treatment and those failing on disease-modifying anti-rheumatic drug Read More

Objective: This study assessed an association of anti-cyclic citrullinated peptide antibodies (ACPA) with clinical and radiological disease severity in patients with rheumatoid arthritis (RA). Materials and Methods: Fifty patients diagnosed with RA as per 2010 revised American College of Rheumatology/ European League Against Rheumatism (ACR/EULAR) classification criteria were included in this cross-sectional study. Ser Read More