Fibrinolytic activity in rheumatoid arthritis

This study was carried out to investigate whether there is a defective fibrinolytic activity or not in patients with rheumatoid arthritis [RA]. 15 patients with RA, and 10 apparently healthy controls were included. In RA, various clinical and laboratory criteria were used to assess disease activity. Fibrinolytic activity in the blood was assessed using: plasma fibrinogen, fibrinogen/fibrin degradation products [FDPs] and euglobin clot lysis time [ECLT]. Patients with RA were found to have an enhanced fibrinolytic activity manifested by a significant shortening of ECLT [P > 0.01] and a significant increase in FDPs concentration [P> 0.01]. Disease activity as measured by a composite activity index [CAl] showed an inverse correlation [rs = 0.74, P > 0.001] with ECLT and a positive correlation with FDPs [rs = 0.71, P > 0.001] and fibrinogen[rs = 0.77, P > 0.001], in RA patients a significant correlation was found between plasma fibrinogen and morning stiffness [rs = 0.88, P > 0.001], grip strength [rs = 0.63, P > 0.02], articular index [rs = 0.78, P > 0.001], and functional status[rs = 0.78, P > 0.001], ESR[rs = 0.87, P > 0.001]. the increased fibrinolytic activity observed in RA patients may be due to an increased fibrinolytic activity observed in RA patients may be due to an increase in disease activity. Therefore, enhanced fibrinolytic activity in RA might be considered as one of the body defence mechanisms. In conclusion : We have demonstrated enhanced fibrinolytic activity with increased disease activity in RA therefore, disease activity should be considered during the assessment of fibrinolytic activity in RA patients

Ischemic optic neuropathy in rheumatoid arthritis, [case report]

Fundus lesions in rheumatoid arthritis due to vasculitis affecting the eye are rare. Our patient was a 58 years old female who presented with seropositive. Erosive rheumatoid arthritis during a period of exacerbation of her arthritis, she developed impairment of vision in the right eye due to ischaemic optic neuropthy and the most likely cause of this was rheumatoid vasculitis. The disc was treated with corticosteroid and immunosuppressive drugs but there was very little improvement of her vision. Other causes such as malignant hypertension, diabetes mellitus, systemic lupus erythematosus, polyarteritis nodosa, progressive systemic sclerosis, dermatiomyositis and temporal arteritis were excluded

Serum copper, caeruloplasmin and non-caeruloplasmin copper in rheumatoid arthritis: a clinico-laboratory study

A controlled clinico-laboratory study was carried out. Serum copper; caeruloplasmin and non-caeruloplasmin copper were measured in 48 patients with rheumatoid arthritis [R.A.]. The following clinical markers were used to assess disease activity in rheumatoid arthritic patients: morning stiffness, grip strength, pain, joint swelling and articular index. The following laboratory markers were also used: ESR, Hb concentration, serum albumin, globulin and IgM rheumatoid factor. Serum copper and caeruloplasmin values were significantly higher [P < 0.001] than that of controls. There was a close positive correlation between serum copper and caeruloplasmin in both patients and controls [P < 0.001]. However, no correlation was found between serum copper and non caeruloplasmin cooper. Patients with extensive erosion exhibited serum copper and caeruloplasmin levels significantly higher [P < 0.05] than those with minimal erosion. Serum copper and caeruloplasmin levels correlated positively with ESR [P < 0.001], grip strength [P < 0.001 and P < 0.05 respectively], joint swelling [P < 0.05]; rheumatoid factor [P < 0.001 and P < 0.05 respectively], serum globulin [P < 0.002, and P < 0.02 respectively], Hb concentration [P < 0.002 and P < 0.05 respectively]. There were significant reductions in serum copper and caeruloplasmin levels in response to treatment with D-penicillamine and gold

relationship between osteoarthritis of the hand and various clinical and radiological criteria

This study comprised 54 patients with hand osteoarthritis and 24 normal controls. The following criteria were assessed in all patients and controls: Joint pain, joint tenderness, grip strength, inactivity stiffness, obesity, arm girth and functional status of the hand. Radiological examination of both hands and wrists was also performed. There was a centrifugal affection of hand joints with OA with more affection of DIP joints than MCP joints. There was increased tendency of OA to increase in severity from ulnar to the radial side of hands. Symptoms of OA in the hand joints were more common in females than males. These symptoms were found to be significantly correlated with the mean number of radiologically affected joints. Grip strength was significantly decreased in patients with hand OA as compared to controls. There was a highly significant correlation between the severity and number of hand joints affected with OA and reduction in grip strength [P < 0.001]. The degree of radiological changes of hand OA was found to have a positive correlation with age. A positive correlation was demonstrated between hand OA and obesity, arm girth, OA elsewhere in the body and the presence of Heberden[s] nodes, in patients with hand OA. No statistically significant reduction in hand function was demonstrated as measured by Jebsen[s] test

Interferential current therapy in frozen shoulder

30 Patients [13 males and 17 females] suffering from idiopathic frozen shoulder were included in this study. They were randomly classified into 3 equal groups. Patients group I were treated with interferential current, patients in group II received ultrasonic therapy. Patients in the 2 groups were subjected to a standard course of therapeutic exercises. In the third groups [controls] patients were only subjected to the same course of therapeutic exercises. The following clinical criteria were used in the assessment of case improvement: Joint pain, tenderness and joint mobility. Patients in the 3 groups were reviewed after one month. The interferential group showed the best results regarding pain [P < 0.001], tenderness [P < 0.001], shoulder extension [P < 0.001], flexion [P < 0.001], abduction [P < 0.001] and external rotation [P < 0.005]. It is advisable to use the interferential current as an important additional noninvasive physical agent in the management of frozen shoulder