Educación en osteoartritis / Education in osteoarthritis

La osteoartritis (O A) es el reumatismo más frecuente. En su manejo no farmacológico se incluye la educación como un tema muy importante a desarrollar. Sin embargo, llama la atención que existe muy poca literatura al respecto, tanto en medición de sus efectos, como acerca de los mejores programas educativos a desarrollar. La evaluación de los distintos estudios muestra que esta intervención es efectiva, tanto en entrega de información como en programas de automanejo. Es también muy importante la educación a los médicos de atención primaria, tanto para mejorar la calidad de las prescripciones, disminuir consumo de recursos y aumentar el uso de las terapias no farmacológicas. Esto cobra especial relevancia ahora que la DA de rodilla y cadera están dentro del Plan AUGE.

Osteoarthritis is the most common rheumatic manifestation. Its non-pharmacological management includes education as one of the important matters to develop. Nevertheless, the lack of literature is significant, both with respect to the scope of its effects and with respect to which educational programs should be developed. The evaluation of different studies shows that this system is effective, both in terms of delivering information and in self-management programs. The education of primary care doctors is also very important in order to improve the quality of prescriptions, lower the use of resources and increase the use of non-pharmacological therapies. This is specially important today with the incorporation of knee and hip osteoarthritis into the Chilean "Plan AUGE" ("Guaranteed Universal Access to Health Plan" in its Spanish acronym ).

Estudio de la eficacia del condroitín 4 y 6 sulfato en los síntomas de la artrosis de rodilla / Study of the effectiveness of condroitín 4 and 6 sulphate in the symptoms of the artrosis of knee

We developed a prospective, open study to evaluate the efficacy of chondroitin sulfate in the treatment of kneeosteoarthritis. Methodology: We studied 61 patients with primary knee osteoarthritis. They were given 800mg/day chondroitin 4-and 6- sulfate (Condrosulf, IBSA, Switzerland) for a period of three months. Patients were controlled every 30 days using the Lequesne index and the visual analogue pain scale. Medication was suspended after 90 days and patients were reevaluated 90 days later. Only Paracetamol was allowed as analgesic. Results: After 90 days a significant improvement of45 percent was observed in the Lequesne index, and 59 percent for knee pain. Once medication is suspended, the effect tends to slowly revert, with final study results significantly better than basal levels. Residual effect is better in patients under age 65 and in those with less basal radiological damage. Subjective opinion of both patient and doctor concurs with results. Conclusions: Chondroitin 4-and 6- sulfate is effective for the symptomatic treatment of knee osteoarthritis. Its effect lasts several months after drug suspension.

Curso clínico de la nefropatía membranosa lúpica pura / Long-Term outcome of type V lupus membranous glomerulonephritis

Background: The long-term outcome of the pure form of WHO type V lupus membranous glomerulonephritis is apparently more benign than that of other forms of lupus glomerulonephritis. However 12percent of such patients progress to terminal renal failure. The presence of proteinuria may be an indication of cytotoxic agents. Aim: To study the clinical long-term outcome of WHO type V lupus membranous glomerulonephritis. Material and methods: A retrospective analysis of all kidney biopsies of a University Pathology Department, with the diagnosis of WHO type V lupus membranous glomerulonephritis. Review of medical records of patients with the disease and one clinical assessment of all living patients. Results: Between 1973 and 2000, 703 kidney biopsies were done to patients with systemic lupus erythematosus. Of these, 40 were membranous glomerulonephritis and in 33 patients (28 women, age range 6-71 years), data on the evolution and survival was obtained. Nineteen had type Va and the rest type Vb nephritis. Two presented with renal failure and 11 with proteinuria over 3.5 g/24h. The median follow-up since the renal biopsy was 63 months (range 1-316). At the end of follow-up, four had a creatinine clearance of less then 15 ml/h and four a clearance between 15 and 29 ml/h (one of these received a renal allograft). Eleven (33percent) patients had died, mostly due to infections. Life expectancy at five years with a creatinine clearance over 15 ml/h was 75percent. Bad prognostic factors were an elevated creatinine clearance over 15 ml/h was 75percent. Bad prognostic factors were an elevated creatinine and high blood pressure at the moment of the biopsy. Conclusions: The clinical outcome of these patients was bad. Twelve percent reached a stage of terminal renal failure. This is in contrast with the 3percent progression to a similar stage of proliferative glomerulonephritis treated with i.v. cyclophosphamide. New therapies for this condition must be sought.

Capacidad de predecir una recaída de lupus eritematoso generalizado, mediante anticuerpos anti-DNA de hebra doble, por la técnica de Farr / Predictive capacity of double stranded anti DNA antibodies for relapses in patients with inactive systemic lupus erythematosus using Farr technique

Background: Patients with inactive systemic lupus erythematosus (SLE) and elevated high affinity double-stranded anti-DNA antibodies (anti-dsDNA), measured using Farr technique, would have a risk of relapse that fluctuates between 40 to 80 percent according to different series. Aim: To study the association between anti-dsDNA levels measured using Farr technique and disease activity and their predictive capacity for relapses. Material and methods: Anti-dsDNA antibodies were measured according to Farr method in 60 healthy subjects, 69 patients with other connective tissue diseases and in 120 patients with SLE. Farr positive were considered those individuals with anti-dsDNA levels over 10.4 IU/ml. Disease activity, assessed using MEX-SLEDAI score was related with anti-dsDNA levels in 101 patients. Forty seven patients with inactive disease were followed for 17ñ14 months. Results: Anti-dsDNA levels were 3ñ2.5 IU/ml (range 1-26) in subjects without LED, and 127ñ500 IU/ml (range 1-5280) in patients with LED. Sixty subjects had an active SLE and 43 (72 percent) were Farr positive; in 41 the disease was inactive and 13 (32 percent) were Farr positive (p <0.001), OR 5.45. Twelve of the 47 followed patients had a relapse and 10 (83 percent) were Farr positive. Of those that did not have a relapse, 13 (37 percent) were Farr positive (p< 0.02, RR 5.22). Six of 15 patients that were followed for more than on year (40 percent), were Farr positive. Conclusions: Elevated anti-dsDNA antibodies measured using Farr technique in patients with inactive generalised lupus erythematosus, predicted the risk of relapse. However less than half of patients with inactive disease and elevated Farr relapsed in a period of one year. The need to treat patients with inactive SLE and positive Farr should therefore be considered debatable