The degree of radiographic abnormalities and postural instability in patients with knee osteoarthritis.

Aim: to determine the degree of radiographic abnormalities based on Kellgren-Lawrence criteria, to determine posturography features in patients with knee OA. Methods: ninety nine subjects were recruited by consecutive sampling at the outpatient clinic of Internal Medicine in Cipto Mangunkusumo Hospital. History taking and physical examination including rheumatology examination were conducted, followed by knee radiographic examination in weight bearing and 30 degree skyline position. A cross sectional design was performed to evaluate the variable results for degree of radiolographic abnormalites and posturography results. Results: the subjects were 79.8% women and 20.2% men, mostly >/= 60 year-old (78.8%), with low education 76.8%, BMI >/= 23 74.7%, mean value of active VAS was 5.4, mean value of passive VAS 2.8. Mild radiographic abnormality was found in 77.8% subjects, and the others were severe, i.e. 22.2%. There were increase in length of postural sway, increase of postural sway velocity, and increase in area of postural sway in patients with knee OA compared with normal subjects with 40-60 years old. Conclusion: there is an increase in nearly all variables of posturography in patients with knee OA.

Correlation between free thyroxin levels and left ventricular ejection fraction in Graves' disease (preliminary study).

AIM: to determine the correlation between free thyroid hormone level and left ventricular ejection fraction in newly diagnosed Graves' patients. METHODS: this is a preliminary study with an initial cross-sectional design using free thyroxine level as a parameter of thyroid hormone state and left ventricular ejection fraction (LVEF) as a parameter of left ventricular systolic function. Free thyroxine level was measured in the laboratory and the LVEF was assessed by Simpson's methods of echocardiography study. RESULTS: ten patients (7 men and 3 women; age 18-52 years old) were studied. Their average of fT4 was 5.75 (SD 0.96) ng/dL and their average of LVEF was 70.57 (SD 4.50)%. There was positive correlation coefficient between free thyroxine level and left ventricular ejection fraction (r=0.711, p=0.021) in newly diagnosed Graves' patients. CONCLUSION: in this study strong positive correlation was found between free thyroxine (fT4) and left ventricular ejection fraction (LVEF) in newly diagnosed Graves' patients.

Scleroderma in a young man.

Scleroderma is a chronic disorder, slowly progressing characterized by diffuse fibrosis of the skin and internal organs. There are functional and structural abnormalities small blood vessels, fibrosis of the skin and internal organs, immune system activation and autoimmunity. Female predominance is most pronounced during mid and late childbearing age, women to men ratio is 7-12 : 1. In this case, we found a diffuse cutaneus scleroderma. Skin biopsy result showed hyperkeratosis, increased dermis thickness with deposition of collagen. The antigenic specificities of antibodies were related to distinct connective tissue disease. The diffuse cutaneus subset was associated with antibodies to topoisomerase I, formerly described as Scl-70 or Scl-86. Anti Scl-70 antibodies were shown in many studies as a marker antibodies for SSC. Colchicine was given in this case, which has the effects of microtubule assembly inhibition and interference with transcellular movement of collagen. During colchicine treatment serum hydroxyproline increased and serum proline decreased, suggesting increased collagen degradation.

The proportion of dyslipidemia in systemic lupus erythematosus patient and distribution of correlated factors.

AIM: To understand the proportion of dyslipidemia in systemic lupus erythematosus (SLE) patients and the influencing factors of dyslipidemia. METHODS: AN observational, cross-sectional study was conducted on new and longstanding SLE patients who had been diagnosed based on ARA criteria 1982 with 1997 revision. They had been hospitalized and treated at Department of Internal Medicine, Cipto Mangunkusumo National Central General Hospital and the other private Hospitals in Jakarta, i.e. Kramat Hospital in July - November 2003. The sample was selected by non probability sampling method with consecutive sampling technique. Every participant underwent history taking, physical and laboratory examination. RESULTS: There were 77 patients satisfying the inclusion criteria. The proportion of dyslipidemia in this study was 75.3%. By confidence interval of 95%, the dyslipidemia in SLE patient was 65.3% - 84.6%. The distribution of lipid profile in sample population were 43% with total cholesterol > or = 200 mg/dL, 26% with HDL cholesterol level < 40 mg/dL, 26.4% with LDL cholesterol level > or = 130 mg/dl and 44.2% with triglycerides serum level > or = 150 mg/dL. The characteristics of influencing factors in dyslipidemia prevalence for sample population consisted of 24.7% with renal involvement, 53.2% with > or = 3 years illness periods, 26% had received > or = 30 mg/day prednisone, 94.8% had not received chloroquines, and 58.4% had illness activity of Mex-SLEDAI > or = 2. By bivariate analysis, we found that illness period < 3 years tends to affect dyslipidemia with OR value of 12.04 (CI 95%, 2.54-57.05, p = 0.001). After conducting multivariate analysis by backward methods, it appears that only one significant influencing factor of dyslipidemia prevalence in SLE patient i.e. Illness period od < 3 years with OR value 12.04 (CI 95% 2.54 - 57.05, p = 0.001). CONCLUSION: Illness period of 3 years is represent a significant correlative factor for dyslipedemia prevalence. Prednisone > or = 30 mg/dL is the correlative factor for total cholesterol > or = 200 mg.dL and triglycerides > or = 150 mg/dL. Mex-SLEDAI > or = 2 is the corrective factor for HDL cholesterol < 40 mg/dL.

The correlation between high sensitivity C-Reactive Protein level and the Extent of Coronary Lesion and Cardiac Systolic Function in Coronary Heart Disease.

To determine the mean value of high sensitivity C-Reactive Protein (hs-CRP), association between plasma level of hs-CRP with extent of disease and systolic function. A cross sectional study had been conducted to 106 coronary artery disease patients (90 stable angina pectoris, 11 unstable angina pectoris and 5 acute myocardial infarction). Plasma quantitative level of hs-CRP with cor angiography to determine extent of disease and ejection fraction were measured. The mean of hs-CRP levels in patients with SVD were 5,5 ± 7,6 mg/L, DVD were 6,6 ± 21,7 mg/L and TVD were 5,5 ± 8,0 mg/L and p=0,056, respectively. There were no significant association between hs- CRP levels with extent of disease. Systolic function had negative correlation with levels of hs-CRP (p=0,015, r=-0,235). This study showed that plasma level of hs-CRP cannot reflect the extent of disease, and it had negative correlation with systolic function.