Sonographic evaluation of the relationship between rheumatoid arthritis and renal stones

Considering the different renal manifestations of rheumatoid arthritis [RA], we carried out this study to investigate the prevalence of renal stones in patients with RA compared to general population. From January 2000 to March 2001, 74 patients with RA and 58 healthy individuals as the control group were evaluated for kidney stones with sonography. All patients were diagnosed on the basis of 1987 criteria of American College of Rheumatology [ACR].1 In the group of patients with RA, 6 out of 74 subjects [8.1%] had renal stones. The prevalence of renal stones in the control group was 8.6% [5 out of 58 persons]. The difference in the incidence of renal stones in the two groups was not statistically significant. The size of renal stones in the two groups was not significantly different. We did not find any relationship between the duration of RA or its various symptoms and the incidence of renal stones. Although RA involves kidneys and in previous studies it was mentioned that the incidence of renal stones in the patients with RA is higher than general population, we did not find any significant statistical correlation between RA and the incidence of renal stones in our study

Psoriatic arthritis in 300 psoriatic patients in Imam Reza Hospital, Mashhad University of Medical Sciences

In order to study the prevalence of psoriatic arthritis in Imam Reza Hospital and determine the effects of factors like age, sex, familial history, type of skin involvement, nail involvement and duration of disease on psoriatic arthritis, 300 psoriatic patients over a period of 4 years were admitted and examined in the Department of Dermatology and Rheumatology in Imam Reza Teaching Hospital, [MUMS]. A special form was designed for collecting needed data [data collection sheet]. Statistical analysis was done on these data. In the studied population, the prevalence of psoritaic arthritis was 16.6%. The most common involved joints were the wrist and fingers [52%]. Asymmetrical peripheral oligoarthritis was the most prevalent type of joint involvement. Most of the patients were between the 3rd and 4th decades of life. Familial history was positive in 20% of psoriatic patients and 18% of psoriatic arthritis. From a clinical point of view 78% of psoriatic arthritis patients had psoriasis vulgaris. Nail involvement in this group was seen in 72%. Nail pitting was present in 68%. In general, the vulgaris type was seen in 89.2% and nail involvement in only 42.8%. In conclusion, psoriatic arthritis was present in 16.6% of 300 patients with psoriasis. It is recommended that joint and spine exams be performed in all cases of psoriasis, especially those with nail involvement