[Obesity has a protective effect on radiographic joint damage in rheumatoid arthritis]

Obesity is a state of chronic low-grade inflammation that predisposes people to several diseases and that is increasingly prevalent. Rheumatoid arthritis [RA] is marked by the presence of proinflammatory cytokines and, in general, the presence of high levels of inflammatory markers is associated with a severe disease course and joint damage. To assess the impact of obesity on disease activity, quality of life and articular damage in patients with established RA. Between July 2009 to December 2009, 119 RA patients were included and divided in two groups according to the body mass index [obeses and controls]. RA activity was assessed by the Disease Activity Score [DAS] 28, quality of life by the Health Assessment Questionnary [HAQ] and radiographic joint damage by the modified Sharp score. Obesity wasn't correlated with worsen RA activity [p=0.71] nor quality of life impairment [p=0.51]. The obese group had a lower modified Sharp score than the control group [64.97versus113.64; p < 0.032] and this association remained significant after adjustment for age, sex, disease activity, extraarticular manifestations, comorbidities, presence of rheumatoid factor, and disease duration. Obesity does not have an impact on disease activity nor changes in quality of life, but it has a protective effect on the amount of joint destruction in established rheumatoid arthritis

[Bisphosphonates': indications in bone diseases other than osteoporosis]

Report of bisphosphonates indications for osseous diseases other than osteoporosis. Narrative review of the literature. Bisphosphonates represent a new medication which is increasingly used. Besides osteoporosis, it is indicated as first choice in different bone diseases such as Paget's disease and the prevention of bone complications in tumoral osteolysis. Bisphosphonates' efficiency has been proven in other pathologies: the fibrous dysplasia and the osteogenesis imperfecta. More over, many studies are driven having for goal to show the efficiency of bisphosphonates in the algoneurodystrophy, non corticosteroid-treated osteoporosis in chronic inflammatory rheumatism and aseptic osteonecrosis. Bisphosphonates are a powerful inhibition of osseous resoption frestable indicatied for osteoporosis. Their indications were retended to paget's disease, malignant hypercalcemia, and osseous complications of malignant osterlysis

[Uncommon cervicobrachial neuralgia: about 17 cases]

Cervicobrachial neuralgia [CBN] is frequent in out patient clinic as well in general medicine as in rheumatology. Even though cervical disc degeneration and osteophytosis constitute the most frequent etiology of such a trouble, the practitioner must be aware of much more serious underlying cause. To investigate the epidemiology, clinical features, aetiologies and paraclinical characteristics of uncommon CBN. Retrospective chart review about 17 cases of uncommon CBN among the 84 cases of CBN hospitalized at the rheumatology department of the Charles Nicolle Hospital during a 16-years-period [1990-2005]. There were 11 men and 6 women with a mean age of 63 years [33y-81y]. All patients presented a CBN since in average five months [2 months- 24 months]. Neck stiffness was noted in 60% of cases and a neurological impairment in 47% of cases. X-ray radiographs of cervical spine were normal in five cases. In the remaining cases, they showed lytic images [six cases], disk space narrowing with vertebral erosions [two cases] and vertebral fracture [three cases]. Further investigations concluded that the CBN was due to a Pancoast'syndrome in five cases, an infectious spondylitis in three cases, cervical bone metastasis in two cases, a syringomyelia in two cases, a neuroma in one case, a thoracic outlet syndrome in one case and an erosive spondylarthropathy in a paatent presentig chronic renal failure managed by hemodialysis. In comparison with common CBN, our patients presenting symptomatic CBN were characterised by an inflammatory and refractory pain. The more frequent recourse to modern imaging is justified

[Thoracic outlet syndrome]

The thoracic outlet syndrome [TOS] is recognized as a cause of upper limb pain. It is often under-diagnosed and its frequency under-estimated by rheumatologists. To report the diagnostic problems related to TOC though a literature review A narrative review of literature. The diagnosis of TOS is difficult because of intricacy of vascular and neurological symptoms. It requires provocative tests, electrophysiological investigations and Doppler ultrasonography. A good anatomical knowledge is mandatory in order to clarify the mechanisms and the location of the lesions which depend on sophisticated imaging exams. It is also recommended to exclude all other causes of upper limb pain, as well as peripheral nerve compression syndromes, which can coexist with TOS. Diagnosis and treatment of the TOS involves rheumatologists, neurologists, physiatrists, orthopedic surgeons, vascular surgeons, thoracic surgeons, neurosurgeons and sometimes psychiatrists who have to cooperate in order to prevent severe functional after-effects

[Morbidity of the elderly in impatient rheumatology clinic]

The improvement of life expectation in our country explains at least in part the increase of the proportion of the elderly in hospitalized patients. The aim of this study was to identify the main diseases leading to hospitalization of the aged in a rheumatology department, to establish their clinical profiles and to evaluate the quality of their management. Retrospective chart review about the elderly [age >/= 65 years] admitted in the rheumatology department of the Charles Nicolle Hospital during a 2-year-period [January 2003-December 2004]. Among the 831 patients admitted to our inpatient clinic during that period, 86 were 65-year-old or more representing 10% of the total. Mean age was 71.2 years [65-88]. The sex ratio was 1/3. A history of a mean of two associated diseases [0-5] was noted. They were dominated by hypertension [50%] and diabetes [26,7%]. Almost 1/3 of the elders had a surgical history. Gastro-intestinal troubles have been noted in only 19% of cases. The main cause of hospitalization was a diagnosis exploration [77,6%]. The remainings were admitted for therapeutic adjustment. The disease was evolving since in mean 16 months [15 days- 15 years]. The mean duration of hospitalization was 21,2 days [4-60]. The pathologies involved were varied dominated by degenerative rheumatisms [26,7%] with a predilection to lumbar spine, systemic diseases: 18 cases [20,9%] with 13 cases of rheumatoid arthritis, and malignant bone diseases [18,7%]. At least two rheumatic diseases were found together in 49 patients [57%]. The clinical findings were atypical in almost half cases [42,4%] in such aged patients. Besides drugs prescribed for non rheumatic diseases, our patients took a mean of 3.4 drugs [1-8] as symptomatic, adjuvant or etiologic treatment. The treatment observance was good in 74,4% of cases. Latrogenic incidents occurred in 14 cases [16,2%]. The outcome was favorable in 68,9% of cases. Twelve of our patients necessitated a third help. Half of our patients [54%] were controlled in our outpatient clinic 1-2 months after their issue. 12 have been hospitalized for the same disease, 8 deceased, and 19 have been lost. The management of the elderly patients in hospitalization must be multidisciplinary. It should take into account the clinical and therapeutic particularities of such a population. Prevention remains the best guarantee for a good quality of life and to decrease social and economic costs

[Update in treatment of psoriatic arthritis]

Psoriatic arthritis is a chronic rheumatic disease making part of spondylarthropathies. It is the most frequent chronic inflammatory rheumatism after rheumatoid arthritis. Eventhough, it is usually a benign affection, it may be destructive leading to handicap. Several new medications have been introduced, including anti-tumor necrosis factor [TNF alpha blockers] and leflunomide for treatment of psoriatic arthritis. Many studies show the efficacy of these medications in this disease

[Septic arthritis in the elderly: about 21 cases]

Septic arthritis [SA] is a serious disease especially if occurring in elderly debilitated by frequent comorbidities and diminished immunity. The authors discuss diagnosis difficulties, prognosis and, therapeutic consequences of the occurrence of septic arthritis in elders It is a retrospective study about 21 cases of septic arthritis [SA] occurring in the elderly aged 65-year-old or more, hospitalized over a ten year period [1994-2005] at the department of Rheumatology of Charles Nicolle's Hospital of Tunis. Mean age was 70.8 years [65y-83y] with a sex-ratio of 1.1 .A history of rheumatologic and/or systemic diseases was present in 62%of cases. Clinic presentation was atypical explaining the long mean diagnosis delay; 23 days for pyogenic SA, 9.3 months for tuberculous arthritis. The germ involved, isolated in 11 cases, was a Staphylococcus Aureus in most ones. Tuberculous arthritis represented 28.6%of cases. The outcome was favourable in 19 cases [90%] after antibiotherapy. Because of its seriousness, SA should be evocated in front of any articular inflammation occurring in elderly. Adequate management must be started as soon as possible

Adult onset still's disease: about 11 cases

Adult onset Still's disease [AOS] is an inflammatory disorder which associates variable articular and systemic manifestations. Despite a better knowledge of its biological and clinical particularities, the pathogeny of this disease remains unknown. The aim of this study is to analyze the epidemiological, clinical, biological and, outcome characteristics of AOS. It is a retrospective study about 11 cases of AOS hospitalized over a 24-year-period [1982-2005] at The Rheumatology Department of Charles Nicolle's Hospital of Tunis. All patients responded to the Yamaguchi criteria. Mean age was 35.4 years [20y-70y] with a sex-ratio of 0.57.Fever and articular involvement were the most frequent signs. Cutaneous symptoms were present in 6 patients. Three of our patients developed destructive arthritis. Renal amyloidosis, a rare complication of AOS, has been noted in one case. AOS is an unfrequent disorder characterized by its diagnosis and treatment difficulties. Recent advances in immunotherapy may better the management of AOS

Common lumbosciatic of the elderly. about 67 cases

The common lombosciatic is a disease observed at all ages. To the elderly, clinical data, treatment, clinical outcome and prognosis present sometimes some peculiarities. Aim: Report of lombosciatic in the elderly. It is a retrospective study including 67 cases of sciatica concerning old patients over 65 years presenting with common lombosciatica, hospitalized between January the 1-st, 2000 and December 31st, 2004. The mean age of our patients is of 71.2 years, sex ratio female / male of 1.88. A chronic lumbago is found at 16.34% of our patients and a starting factor pains in 14.3% of cases. Pain is of progressive installation in 93.4% of cases. Mechanical in 77.5% of cases and impulsive in 55% of cases. Sciatica was unilateral in 67.3% of cases and interesting the root L 5 in 40.8% of cases. Physical exam find a painless attitude in 26.5% of cases and a spasm of spinal muscles in 65.3%. The average of schober index is of 2.4 cms + 1.18. Lasegue is present in 36.7% of cases. Neurological exam find overdrawn signs in 8% of cases, sensory signs in 61.2% of cases. No cauda equine syndrome was individualized in our series. Lumbar spine X-rays, made in 98% of cases, show a L5-S1 disc impairment in 83.6% of cases, a scoliotic attitude in 22.4% of cases, a spondylolithesis of L4L5 in 26,5% of cases and lumbar cannal stenosis in 12.2% of cases. Lumbar densitometry, realized in 22.4% of cases, shows a herniated disc in 27.2% of cases, and a lumbar canal stenosis in 27.2% of cases. The MRI, made once, was normal. During their hospitalization, 87.7% of patients received NSAID's, 18.4% of them analgesics drugs [landing I, II, III] and 79.6% epidurals infiltrations. All our patients observed bed rest. A physiotherapy was prescribed for 44.9% of them. A good outcome was quickly noticed in 85.7% of the patients. A therapeutic failure was observed at 14.3%. 6% underwent surgery. Only 10,2% of the non operated patient had pain recurrence. Nowadays sciatica is a frequent pathology either in young or in geriatric population. Nevertheless it is necessary to eliminate a tumoral or infectious sciatica that can be misleading by the condition of the old age and by the frequent associated pathologies at such age