Functional disability of Filipino patients with hand Osteoarthritis seen at a Rheumatology outpatient clinic of a Tertiary Government Hospital

Introduction@#Osteoarthritis (OA) is a common joint disease which may cause functional limitation in daily activities. The aim of this study is to determine disability of patients with hand osteoarthritis (HOA) using the Disability of Arm, Shoulder and Hand (DASH) questionnaire and to determine association of risk factors to the development of HOA. @*Methods@#This is a cross-sectional study done in a tertiary government hospital. Patients seen at the rheumatology outpatient clinic aged 40 years and above, diagnosed with primary OA of hands, knees, hips and spine based on American College of Rheumatology criteria and who gave written informed consent, were included. Patient characteristics were extracted. Descriptive statistics were used. Those with HOA were compared to those without HOA, as to biomechanical stress, menopause, body mass index (BMI) and family history. They were made to complete the DASH questionnaire. Data was analyzed using chi-square and logistics regression analysis to determine association of risk factors for HOA. @*Results@#One hundred fifty patients with primary OA were included; 61.3% were between 60-79 years, 92% were female. Forty-one percent were obese, 55.3% had family history of OA. There were 88 cases of HOA (59%). Mean age at onset is 58.2±8.8 years, mean age at diagnosis is 61.8±9.6 years. The most common complaints were stiffness and pain (60.3%), stiffness only (29.5%) and pain only (10.2%). The average DASH is 28.7±15.6 (mild disability), seen in 59.1%, moderate disability in 37.5% and severe in 3.4%. Among the risk factors for the development of HOA, there was a trend for menopause, BMI and biomechanical stress to increase risk of HOA. Among the biomechanical factors, cooking, laundry and cleaning showed a trend toward increasing risk two-fold.@*Conclusion@#This study showed that half of patients with primary OA in the study had HOA that was mildly disabling in a majority, and moderately disabling in 1/3 of cases. There may be correlation with biomechanical factors in its development. Other important risk factors for its development need to be further studied in a larger cohort of patients.

Disease characteristics of Takayasu’s Arteritis among Filipino patients seen at Rheumatology Clinics

Introduction@#Takayasu’s arteritis (TA), a large vessel vasculitis has various initial presenting manifestations; making it difficult to diagnose. Hence, the number of those with the disease in the population is underestimated. The study intends to update local data and to describe different presentations of the disease to enhance awareness for TA.@*Methods@#This is a retrospective study done in a tertiary government hospital. Twenty-two out of twenty three charts of patients diagnosed with TA based on the 1990 ACR criteria were reviewed. Demographic profile, initial clinical manifestations, imaging, treatment and outcomes were collected. Descriptive statistics was applied. Institutional Review Board approval was obtained prior to study initiation.@*Results@#Majority (90.1%) were female; mean age at onset of symptoms and at diagnosis were 30.4 (+12.3)years and 33.2 (+12.0)years respectively. The common reasons for consult were hypertension (26.3%), claudication (21.1%) and abdominal pain (11%). Laboratories showed elevated erythrocyte sedimentation rate (87.5%), leukocytosis (43.8%), anemia (31%) and thrombocytosis (4.5%). Common imaging findings were cardiomegaly (27.3%), aortic regurgitation (27.3%) and carotid stenosis (18.2%). CT angiogram in 90% of cases demonstrated arterial wall narrowing. Other findings were aneurysm (31.8%), contour irregularities (13.6%) and femoral artery occlusion (4.5%). Treatment for active disease were glucocorticoids alone (44%) and combined glucocorticoids and other immunosuppressants (56%). Of the 22 records reviewed, six patients (27%) had stroke. Four (18.2 %) had different surgical procedures; ray amputation of toe for digital ischemia, embolectomy for digital gangrene, balloon angioplasty of the renal artery and renal angioplasty for stenosis. Two (9.1%) who had pregnancies after TA diagnosis had premature deliveries without neonatal complications. No mortality was recorded over the mean follow-up of 49.33 patient-years.@*Conclusion@#Clinicians should be aware of the different initial presenting signs and symptoms of TA since development of collateral circulation may mask other symptoms. Thus, thorough history and physical assessment are essential tools in the diagnosis of TA.

Posterior Reversible Encephalopathy Syndrome and Subarachnoid Hemorrhage After Methylprednisolone Pulse Therapy for a patient with Lupus Nephritis

Introduction@#Systemic lupus erythematosus (SLE) is a chronic inflammatory systemic disease that can affect any organ including the central nervous system (CNS). Subarachnoid hemorrhage (SAH) is one of its rare CNS manifestations. Posterior reversible encephalopathy syndrome (PRES), with features of headache, seizures, altered mental status, visual loss, and typical imaging findings, has recently been associated with SLE and immunosuppression, including use of high dose steroids. The patient was seen in University of the Philippines-Philippine General Hospital (UP-PGH), a tertiary training hospital in Manila, Philippines@*Case@#A 33-year-old female with lupus had PRES and SAH after methylprednisolone pulse therapy (MPPT) for nephritis. She presented with headache, hypertension and seizure. Initial cranial imaging showed hypodense areas in both parietotemprooccipital regions and small acute infarcts. She was intubated and treated with anti-convulsants for seizure; hydrocortisone and mycophenolate mofetil for SLE. She regained awareness on the seventh hospital day and was extubated. On the eleventh hospital day, she had fever, cough and was noted to be drowsy. She had increasing serum creatinine and decrease in urine output. Repeat cranial CT scan showed subarachnoid hemorrhage at the right sylvian fissure and better delineation of the previously described hypodensities (consistent with PRES). She was treated for hospital acquired pneumonia and underwent hemodialysis. Pneumonia was resolved and patient became conscious with no recurrence of neurologic symptoms. Consecutive outpatient visits showed a conscious and less edematous patient. Hemodialysis was eventually discontinued until she had normal creatinine with adequate urine output. Anti-seizure medications were also discontinued. Cranial CT scan a year later revealed normal brain parenchyma indicating resolution of previously noted hypodensities and subarachnoid hemorrhage.@*Conclusion@#There is a need to recognize PRES and differentiate it from irreversible neurologic conditions. With early identification and prompt intervention, permanent neurologic deficits may be prevented.