Micro albuminuria in patients with juvenile rheumatoid arthritis

The present study aimed at detection of early subclinical renal disorders amongst patients with juvenile rheumatoid arthritis [JRA]. Further aim was to estimate microalbuminuria and to clarify its relationship with disease activity parameters and disease onset types. Forty patients with JRA were enrolled, making sure that they did not have diabetes mellitus, hypertension or any present or previous renal disease. They were selected according to the diagnostic criteria of the American College of Rheumatology. Fifteen healthy subjects matching in age and sex served as a control group. All studied persons were subjected to full history taking and thorough clinical examination. Laboratory tests performed included CBC, FBS, kidney function tests, ESR, RF, CRP, ANA and urine analysis. Microalbuminuria was measured using the immunoturbidimetry method. Results showed that microalbuminuria was present among 22.5% of the studied patients, more frequent among patients with extra-articular manifestations. It positively correlated with disease duration, treatment duration, morning stiffness articular index and ESR. But there was an insignificant positive correlation with pain scale. Results also showed insignificant negative correlation between microalbuminuria and both the grip strength and haemoglobin levels

Value of MRI in detection of disease progression in knee osteoarthritis

Osteoarthritis [O.A] of the knee is the most common disorder of human joints. This study was conducted to evaluate the value of magnetic resonance imaging [MRI] in the detection of disease progression in patients with knee O.A. Twenty patients with symptomatic knee O.A. were examined clinically, radiologically [plain X-rays] and MR imaging. The procedures were repeated after 6 months. X-ray findings show a significant difference [p<0.05] in medial and patello-femoral compartments, MRI findings show highly significant difference between studied cases [p<0.01]. We concluded that MRI might be useful in the evaluation of disease progression than clinical or radiological examination of O.A knees