Current Rheumatology Reviews - Volume 16, Issue 4, 2020

Granulomatosis with polyangiitis (GPA) is a rare and systemic autoimmune disease, causing necrotizing vasculitis of small arteries and veins. The majority of diagnosed patients with GPA have circulating anti-neutrophil cytoplasmic antibodies (ANCA) directed against proteinase 3 (PR3). Here, we have reviewed the last findings and uncertainties regarding the treatment of GPA. Between the available treatments, in addition to c Read More

Rheumatoid arthritis (RA) is a chronic inflammatory autoimmune disease, which is characterized by the hyperplasia of synovial tissue. Survivin is a member of the inhibitor of apoptosis protein family, which facilitates the formation of functional T-cell receptor and differentiation of memory T cells. Survivin plays an important role in the expression of major histocompatibility complex molecules and mature dendritic cells, which Read More

Background: Small fiber neuropathy and fibromyalgia are two conditions that share overlapping features. Although various treatments are available for use in fibromyalgia, the response often remains unsatisfactory. Prior studies have shown that in small fiber neuropathy of autoimmune etiology, intravenous immunoglobulin (IVIg) holds promise as an effective treatment. Methods: Herein we report the use of IVIg in 7 pati Read More

Objective: To describe the clinical features in patients with Behcet’s disease suffering from uveitis in Egypt and to compare the findings between both genders. Methods: 453 subjects fulfilling the 1990 Classification criteria for Behcet’s disease and with uveitis in at least one eye. Follow-up was done for two years. Results: Oral ulcers and recurrent iridocyclitis occurred in all patients during their disease course. The prevalence of Read More

Introduction: Methotrexate (MTX) is a highly effective therapy for patients with rheumatoid arthritis (RA). However, it has been associated with a range of liver related adverse events. The aim of our study was to evaluate the prevalence rate of liver fibrosis in RA patients and to assess the correlation of cumulative MTX dose with hepatic fibrosis in our context. Materials and Methods: This is a cross-sectional study, whose go Read More

Background: Familial Mediterranean fever (FMF) is an autoinflammatory disease with potentially devastating effects on the kidney, and the chronic subclinical inflammation may also be deleterious. Further, proteinuria has been associated with chronic inflammatory states. Objective: We aimed to probe whether red cell distribution width (RDW) can be used as a reliable indicator of subclinical disease in FMF patients. Methods: Nin Read More

Objective: To study the clinical and laboratory features of Antiphospholipid Syndrome (APS) in a cohort of Egyptian patients and compare between primary and secondary type on the basis of clinical and immunological pattern. Patients and Methods: We reviewed the medical records of 148 antiphospholipid syndrome patients following in Rheumatology and Rehabilitation department, Cairo University. Clinical and immunologic Read More

Background: Ankylosing spondylitis (AS) is a chronic progressive inflammatory disease leading to functional limitations and subsequently impaired quality of life (QoL). Despite the fact that QoL was recognized as a significant perception, it was excluded from the core domains (defined by the Assessment of Spondyloarthritis International Society), because of ambiguity of measurement choice. Aim: To assess QoL in patients wit Read More

Objective: Evidence for treating chikungunya arthritis early in the course of illness is scarce. This study assesses the efficacy of Methotrexate in early Chikungunya arthritis. Methods: It is a randomized controlled open-label assessor-blinded trial with a crossover design. Sixty patients with persistent post chikungunya arthritis with at least 3 or more tender or swollen joints (28 joint count) were recruited. MTX arm was given Read More

Objective: Knee osteoarthritis (KOA) is defined as a chronic degenerative joint disease. Obesity is a significant risk factor for KOA. Omentin is an adipose tissue-induced adipokine. The aim of the present study was to investigate the correlation between obesity and serum omentin levels in patients with KOA. Methods: This study included 60 patients with KOA, 34 obese individuals (O-KOA) and 26 nonobese individuals (NO-KO Read More

Background: Liver involvement is not considered a typical extra-articular manifestation and has rarely been studied in rheumatoid arthritis (RA). We aimed to identify the prevalence and aetiologies of liver disease in RA patients. Methods: A cross-sectional study included 150 patients with RA enrolled over 5 years (2010- 2015). The clinical and paraclinical features of RA were analyzed. The clinical and biological characteristics Read More

Background: Sarcoidosis is a systemic inflammatory disease of unknown etiology that can affect virtually any organ. Löfgren syndrome, characterized by erythema nodosum, hilar lymphadenopathy, fever and polyarthritis, represents only 20-30% of the cases of sarcoidosis. Only 2- 10% of the cases feature hypercalcemia. Case: The case of a 42-year-old Hispanic woman with a history of erythema nodosum and thre Read More

Background: Stiff Person Syndrome (SPS) is a rare autoimmune neurological disorder which is often misdiagnosed. We report here a case of SPS with a long diagnosis delay. Case: A 36-year-old man presented with an 11-year history of progressive stiffness and painful spasms of his both legs, with recent worsening of his condition over the last year resulting in a considerable difficulty of standing up and walking. As the patient d Read More