Joint restriction in adult non-insulin-dependent diabetes mellitus

100 patients suffering from adult non insulin dependent diabetes mellitus for a duration varying between one year and 15 years were included study. 35 age and sex matched controls not suffering from diabetes were also included in the study. The mobility score recommended by Campbell et al. [1985] was used to assess joint restriction in both groups. The diabetics were divided into 2 groups; group A [patients with joint restriction] and group B [patients without joint restriction]. 48% [48/109] of the diabetics had joint restriction while 8.57% [3/35] of the control group had joint restriction. The mobility score was significantly poorer in the diabetics than in patients of control group [P < 0.05]. The mobility score was poorer in patients who had diabetes for more than 10 years [P < 0.0001], 25% [12/48] of diabetics with joint restriction and all of them had diabetes for more than 10 years. The incidence of intake of insulin in group A patients [diabetics with joint restriction] was 87, 80% while its incidence in group B patients [diabetics without joint restriction] was 61.5% while is statistically significant [P < 0.001]. The incidence of micro-vascular disease of eyes and kidneys in group A was 43.75% while its incidence in group B was 22% which is statistically significant [P < 0.02]. The incidence of neuropathy in group A was 33.33% while its incidence in group B was 11.53% which is statistically significant [P < 0.001]. The incidence of tight waxy skin over proximal phalanges was 60.4% in group A while its incidence in group B was 1r90.2% which is statistically significant [P < 0.0001]

Kidney functions in late rheumatoid arthritis

In a trial to find out the effect of late rheumatoid arthritis on the kidney functions, this work was performed on 20 patients with late rheumatoid arthritis fulfilling the criteria of American Rheumatism Association. They were 15 females and 5 males. Their ages ranged between 30 years and 65 years. After obtaining a complete history, the patients were subjected to full clinical examination together with a battery of laboratory investigations including complete blood picture. erythrocytic sedimentation rate by Westergren's method and detection of rheumatoid factor in the serum by latex agglutination test. In addition, a blood sample was collected for estimation of blood urea and serum creatinine. Then the patients were subjected to plain X-ray of the clinically affected joint, as well as renal Scintigraphy using 99 m Tc tagged DPTA. Scintigraphy revealed that renal perfusion was diminished in 30%. Radioactive accumulation was slow in 35% of the patients and excretion was slow to a variable extent in all the cases, with no evidence of organic obstruction. These findings indicate the presence of renal affection in cases of late rheumatoid arthritis