Behcet's disease: an assessment of cutaneous, ocular and articular characteristics in the south of Jordan

To determine the spectrum and the frequency of skin, eye and joint manifestation in patients with Behcet's Disease in the southern parts of Jordan. Twenty three patients diagnosed to have Behcet's Disease were included in the study. The diagnosis was based on the criteria proposed by the International Study Group of Behcet's Disease. In order to detect the various cutaneous, ocular and articular manifestations of the disease, all patients were thoroughly evaluated by a dermatologist, an ophthalmologist, and a rheumatologist. Pathergy test was performed for all patients. Fifteen patients were males [65.1%] and eight were females [34.8%]. The mean age was 32.5 years Oral ulcers were detected in all the patients and genital ulcers were found in 56.5% of the patients. Other skin lesions were detected in 56.5% of the patients. Ocular lesions occurred in 60.8% of the patients. Joint involvement was found in 43.4% of the patients. The pattern of cutaneous, ophthalmic and articular manifestation in our group of patients was different from patterns reported in countries with different races and similar to patterns in neighboring countries. The results may reflect the effect of differences in both the genetic background and environmental factors among different countries

relationship between clinical activity and function in ankylosing spondylitis patients

To assess the functional status among patients with ankylosing spondylitis [AS], using the Bath Ankylosing Spondylitis Functional Index [BASFI] and to find its correlation with clinical measures of spinal mobility, back pain and morning back stiffness. Fifty-two patients with AS attending the outpatients rheumatology clinics were evaluated by assessing:- functional status; the severity of back pain, morning back stiffness; and spinal mobility using clinical measures of spinal flexibility [Shober's maneuver, chest expansion and neck rotation]. Patients with severe morning back stiffness [mean 94.3]; impaired lumbar and cervical mobility [mean Shober's 1.6 cms, cervical rotation 82.4deg.] showed significant impairment of functional status [P value <0.05] compared with those having back pain and limited chest expansion [P value > 0.05]. Poor function is significantly associated with severe morning back stiffness, limited cervical and lumbar mobility, which suggests an important role of these measures in following up AS patients

Cicatricial pemphigoid: a case report

Cicatricial pemphigoid is a rare idiopathic chronic and progressive autoimmune blistering disorder of late middle age, and more common in women. We report a case of 44-year-old female patient who had been diagnosed and treated as a case of Behcet's disease for three years. In June 2002, the patient was admitted to the Rheumatology Department-Royal Rehabilitation Center with severe painful mouth ulcerations, redness of eyes with excessive sticky discharge and dysphagia. Clinical findings and laboratory tests including immunofluorescent study were diagnostic of Cicatricial pemphigoid. The patient was treated with oral methotrexate, prednisolone and artificial teardrops followed by surgical release of conjunctival scarring