The Features of Oriental Medicine and Kampo Treatment for Undifferentiated Finger Arthritis / 日本東洋医学雑誌

There are cases of finger pain in which a definite diagnosis including rheumatoid arthritis cannot be made even after thorough examinations. We herein report the results of Kampo treatment in such cases with so called undifferentiated arthritis. Sixty­-two patients (male, n = 5 ; female, n = 57 ;average age, 49.7 years) were included in the present study. There is a tendency of the Kampo concept of a cold pattern (n = 39 ; 63%), static blood (oketsu, n = 47;76%), and qi stagnation (n = 44 ;71%). Among the 62 cases, excellent results were ob­tained in 29 cases (47%), good results were obtained in 10 cases (16%), and no effect was obtained in 23 cases (37%). Kamishoyosan, which was administered in 30 cases, was the most commonly used Kampo medicine. In most cases, Kampo treatment was given with a combination of two or more formulas. A paired formula of kamishoyosan and keishikaryojutsubuto was used in 9 cases, 8 of which showed good or excellent results (efficacy rate : 89%). Qi- and/or ketsu-­tonifying formulations and formulations with warming effects were often used for the treatment of undifferentiated finger arthritis.

A Case of Pachydermoperiostosis Combined with Undifferentiated Arthritis

Pachydermoperiostosis (PDP) is a primary hypertrophic osteoarthropathy characterized by digital clubbing, pachydermia, and periostosis, which is inherited as an autosomal dominant or recessive trait. We report on a patient suffering from bilateral knee arthritis for 6 years who was newly diagnosed as PDP. PDP was confirmed by bilateral digital clubbing, hyperhidrosis, and cutis verticis gyrata, findings of pachydermatosis on the forehead and scalp, X-ray findings of proliferative periostitis. This case indicates that PDP is one of several possible rare diseases that should be considered in patients with undifferentiated arthritis.

Artritis indiferenciada: experiencia en dos Centros ambulatorios de reumatología, Medellín, Colombia / Undifferentiated arthritis: experience in two outpatient center of rheumatology, Medellin, Colombia

Introducción: La prevalencia de la artritis indiferenciada en cohortes de artritis de reciente comienzo ha sido variable (23%-56%). Hasta el 54% de los pacientes entra espontáneamente en remisión, 30% evoluciona a artritis reumatoide u otra enfermedad articular inflamatoria definida y 20% continúa con artritis indiferenciada. Objetivo: Describir las características clínicas y el comportamiento, en el tiempo, de la artritis indiferenciada en pacientes de dos centros de reumatología de Medellín, Colombia. Material y métodos: Estudio descriptivo de corte transversal. Se revisaron las historias clínicas de los pacientes con diagnóstico de artritis indiferenciada, con al menos 6 meses de seguimiento, evaluados a mayo de 2011, en Reumatologya S.A. y Clínica Las Vegas. Se analizaron variables demográficas, clínicas y de laboratorio. Resultados: Se incluyeron 61 historias clínicas. La afección fue monoarticular en el 36,1%, oligoarticular en el 27,9% y poliarticular en el 36,1%. En el 75,4% se estableció una enfermedad articular inflamatoria definida (26,2% artritis reumatoide, 16,4% artropatía por pirofosfato de calcio, 6,6% artropatía por cristales de urato monosódico, 6,6% espondiloartropatía seronegativa, 4,9% osteoartritis erosiva, y 14,5% otras). Conclusiones: Durante el seguimiento, el 24,6% de los pacientes continuó con diagnóstico de artritis indiferenciada. La artritis se autolimitó en el 6,6% de los pacientes y en el 75,4% restante se estableció una enfermedad articular inflamatoria definida. Si bien el diseño y tamaño de la muestra del estudio son insuficientes para definir asociaciones estadísticamente significativas, los hallazgos aportan al conocimiento del comportamiento de la artritis indiferenciada en Colombia.

The clinical predictive value analysis of multi-autoantibodies detection in the transformation from undifferentiated arthritis to rheumatoid arthritis / 中华风湿病学杂志

Objective To investigate the clinical predictive value of rheumatoid factor (RF), anti-keratin antibodies (AKA), anti-cyclic citrullinated peptide (anti-CCP) antibody and anti-perinuclear factor (APF) in the transition from undifferentiated arthritis (UA) to rheumatoid arthritis (RA), and to analyze the clinical relevant factors. Methods 271 patients with UA who were followed up for a year were enrolled into the investigation. RF was measured by the rate scatting immunity method. APF and AKA were detected by immuniofluorescence method(IFA). Anti-CCP was measured by ELISA. Erythrocyte sedimentation rate (ESR) was analyzed by Wilcoxon method. The duration of morning stiffness, the numbers of swelling and tender joints, tender joints involved and DAS28 score were recorded and analyzed. Results 99% patients who had four-antibody-positive finally convetted from UA to RA. The conversation rate for those who had two or more than two antibody-positive was 83.0% and 65.9% respectively. The sensitivity and specificity of RF and anti-CCP antibody-positive in those who converted from UA to RA was 77.8% and 80.5% respectively. The percentage of polyarticular swelling in antibody-negative, one-antibody-positive, two-antibody-positive, three-antibody- positive and four-antibody-positive was 48%, 57%, 59%, 70% and 70% respectively. Meanwhile, the percentage of multi-small-joint involvement was 71%, 71%, 72%, 76% and 83% respectively. The proportion of elbow involvement in antibody-negative patients was 72%, which was the highest among all joint area involvement. The conversion differences of the group with more than 3 swelling joints or more than 3 small joints involvement ranked the first and second in frequency. Conclusion The combined detection of these autoantibodies could increase the specificity of early diagnosis of RA. The more positive antibodies present, the more likely the concersion form UA to RA. The sensitivity and specificity of RF and anti-CCP-positive is high, so the latter is expected to become one of the diagnostic criteria. The polyarticular swelling and multi-small-joint involvement are valuable in predicting the transformation from UA to RA.

Panuveíte em artrite indiferenciada HLA-B27 positiva / Panuveitis in HLA-B27 positive undifferentiated arthritis

Entre os vários tipos de inflamação ocular associados às doenças reumatológicas, a uveíte anterior é particularmente comum nas espondiloartropatias, em especial quando associada à presença do genótipo HLA-B27. Relatou-se o caso de um paciente com artrite indiferenciada HLA-B27 positivo, complicado com panuveíte e vasculite da retina, refratária ao tratamento imunossupressor tradicional, que obteve boa resposta clínica ao uso de anti-TNF-alfa.

Among the several types of ocular inflammation associated to the rheumatic diseases, anterior uveitis is particularly common in the spondyloarthropathies, especially when associated to the presence of the HLA-B27 genotype. We report the case of HLA-B27 positive patient with undifferentiated arthritis, complicated with panuveitis and retinal vasculitis, that was refractory to the traditional imunossupressive treatment, and had a good clinical response with anti-TNF-alpha therapy.