Disease characteristics of Filipino ankylosing spondylitis patients in Metro Manila rheumatology clinics

@#<p style="text-align: justify;"><strong>OBJECTIVES:</strong> The study aims to describe the disease characteristics of Filipino patients diagnosed with ankylosing spondylitis (AS) in different rheumatology clinics in Metro Manila, Philippines.</p><p style="text-align: justify;"><strong>METHODS:</strong> The study retrospectively reviewed the records of all Filipino AS patients aged 18 years old and above,diagnosed by the Rome Criteria and seen from January 2000 to May 2012 at the rheumatology outpatient clinic of the Philippine General Hospital and in different rheumatology clinics in Metro Manila. Demographics, joint manifestations, radiographic findings, and medications were described and tabulated. Descriptive statistics included mean and standard deviation for quantitative variables and frequency and percentage for qualitative variables. .</p><p style="text-align: justify;"><strong>RESULTS:</strong> Forty-seven Filipino AS patients were included in the study. The male to female ratio was 46:1. The mean age at diagnosis was 33.2 +/- 10.93 years while the mean disease duration was 7.04 +/- 4.28 years. Seven (14.8%) patients had a family history of AS while twelve (70.6%) tested positive for HLA-B27. The lumbar spine was the most commonly affected site in the majority (80.9%) of subjects. A significant number of participants (70.2%) also had peripheral joint involvement,with the knee being the most common peripheral joint involved (72.7%). In terms of imaging, sacroiliitis was found in the majority (87.5%) of patients. All patients received standard rehabilitation exercises and almost all (97.9%) were on NSAIDs. Nine (19.1%) patients each received opioids and DMARD therapy, while eight (17%) received anti-TNF therapy.</p><p style="text-align: justify;"><strong>CONCLUSION:</strong> Filipino patients with AS are mostly young males presenting with chronic lumbar pain and HLA-B27 positivity.The data gathered in this study may help local physicians identify AS early in affected patients, giving them access to early intervention and thereby preventing progressive structural and functional deterioration.</p>

A case report on a 29-year-old male with difficult to treat bronchial asthma in exacerbation: Rediscovering asthma COPD overlap syndrome (ACOS)

@#<p style="text-align: justify;"><strong>BACKGROUND:</strong> Asthma chornic obstructive pulmonary disorder(COPD) overlap syndrome (ACOS) was formally described by the joint project of global initiative for asthma (GINA) and global Initiative for chronic obstructive lung disease (GOLD) as persistent airflow limitation with several features usually associated with both asthma and COPD. ACOS is identified by the features shared with both asthma and COPD.The underlying cause though remains unknown,hence the project did not offer current formal definition.<br /><strong>CASE:</strong> This is a case of a 29-year-old male, asthmatic with an eight-pack year smoking history who presented with chronic obstructive respiratory symptoms with non significant improvement on control of exacerbation despite standard maximal  therapy.Diagnostic tests such as pulmonary function Tests,2D Echo,chest CT scan and even assay for alpha 1 anti trypsin were done to rule out for other disease entities and prognosticate the patient's condition leading to the diagnosis of asthma COPD overlap syndrome (ACOS). <br /><strong>CONCLUSION:</strong> ACOS as a disease entity is still under debate and still has no current formal definition due to lack of specific biomarkers and lack of defining characteristics.Despite this,management should not be compromised since these patients often present with higher rates of exacerbations,hospitalization,associated co morbid illness and mortality.Treatment therefore is individualized.</p>