Rat bite fever caused by Streptobacillus notomytis mimicking pyogenic polyarthritis: A case report.

We report the world's sixth case of rat bite fever caused by Streptobacillus notomytis that mimicked pyogenic polyarthritis and required surgical debridement in combination with prolonged antibiotic therapy. This case report highlights the higher severity of rat bite fever caused by S. notomytis compared to S. moniliformis.

Relationship Between Health-Related Quality of Life and Patient Acceptable Symptom State With Disease Activity and Functional Status in Patients With Ankylosing Spondylitis in Thailand.

OBJECTIVE: This study aimed to identify factors associated with EuroQoL-5 Dimensions, 5 Levels and Patient Acceptable Symptom State (PASS) and health utility (HU) in Thai patients with ankylosing spondylitis (AS). METHODS: This was a cross-sectional study of consecutive AS patients visiting Siriraj Hospital between May 31, 2012, and March 31, 2016. Demographic data and outcomes related to HU (Thai version of EuroQoL-5 Dimensions, 5 Levels), disease activity (Bath Ankylosing Spondylitis Disease Activity Index, Ankylosing Spondylitis Disease Activity Score-erythrocyte sedimentation rate or Ankylosing Spondylitis Disease Activity Score-C-reactive protein, number of tender and swollen joints, and enthesitis), and functional status (Bath Ankylosing Spondylitis Functional Index and Health Assessment Questionnaire) were collected. Regression analysis was used to explore factors associated with each EuroQOL-5 Dimensions (EQ-5D) domain, HU, and PASS. RESULTS: Among 119 AS patients, the mean age was 40.4 years; 61.3% were male. The mean EQ-5D was 0.75. In univariate analysis, lower disease activity and less impaired function were significantly associated with higher HU and not to mild problems in each EQ-5D domain. In multivariate regression analysis, Bath Ankylosing Spondylitis Disease Activity Index, C-reactive protein, and Health Assessment Questionnaire adjusting for age explained 77.4% of the HU variance. Patients answering yes to PASS were significantly older, had higher HU, and lower disease activity compared with those answering no to PASS. Usual activity and pain problems were importantly related to PASS after adjusting for other domains and age. CONCLUSIONS: Disease activity and functional status in AS patients were significant factors related to HU and PASS. To improve quality of life, treatment goals should be achieving remission, improving function, and controlling pain.

Metabolic syndrome is associated with disease activity in patients with rheumatoid arthritis.

OBJECTIVE: To investigate the association between metabolic syndrome (MS) and disease activity in patients with rheumatoid arthritis (RA). METHODS: Siriraj Rheumatoid Arthritis registry is a prospective cohort study establishing since May 2011. A total of 267 patients who had complete data in February 2015 were included in these analyses. All clinical and laboratory data related to disease activity, functional status, and parameters of MS according to the 2001 National Cholesterol Education Program Adult Treatment Panel III (NCEP ATP III) were collected. Univariate and backward stepwise multivariate analyses were performed to identify factors associated with MS. RESULTS: Most (88%) were female with the mean age±standard deviation of 59±11.1 years old. MS was found in 43 patients (16%). Patients with MS had a significantly lower proportion of patients with remission (time-adjusted mean of disease activity score 28 or DAS28<2.6) than those with non-MS (2.3% vs. 16.5%, P=0.02). Multiple logistic regression analysis identified 3 independent factors associated with MS including body mass index [OR 1.2, 95% CI 1.1 to 1.3], educational level≤12 years [OR 5.92, 95% CI 1.47 to 23.83], and disease remission [OR 0.11, 95% CI 0.01 to 0.93]. This model correctly predicted 84% of cases. CONCLUSION: Remission rate is significantly lower in RA patients with MS. Disease activity of RA, body mass index, and educational level are associated with metabolic syndrome in patients with RA.

Long-term use of methotrexate does not result in hepatitis B reactivation in rheumatologic patients.

BACKGROUND AND OBJECTIVE: Hepatitis B virus (HBV) infection is still prevalent in Asia, including Thailand. HBV can archive in hepatocytes for life and can reactivate after immunosuppression and chemotherapy administration. Use of immunosuppressive agents is recommended in many rheumatologic diseases and reactivation of HBV can occur. Data regarding the effect of methotrexate (MTX) on HBV reactivation is scanty. MTX is a well known cause of hepatic fibrosis but its effect on HBV reactivation is not clearly understood. There is no specific recommendation for HBV prophylaxis for patients using MTX. This study aimed to determine the prevalence of HBV seromarkers in rheumatologic patients who were treated with long-term MTX and to evaluate the hepatitis outcome in the patients with positive HBV markers. METHODS: This was a cross-sectional study at the Rheumatology Clinic, Siriraj Hospital, Bangkok, Thailand. Patients aged 15 years or older treated with MTX more than 24 weeks were invited in the study. Review of medical history, MTX prescription and dosage during the last 52 weeks, blood tests for liver function tests, HBV serology, and HBV DNA viral load were performed. The exclusion criteria included patients who were treated with biological DMARDs, drugs active against HBV, known co-infection with HCV or HIV and previous diagnosis of cirrhosis from any causes or presence of hepatocellular carcinoma. RESULTS: A total of 173 patients were enrolled (153 females, 20 males, mean age of 52.6 ± 13.6 years). The majority of patients were diagnosed with rheumatoid arthritis (67.0%), SLE (13.9%), spondyloarthopathies (8.7%) and others (10.4%). Thirty percent of them (55/173) had no previous data for HBV seromarkers. Among 118 patients who had baseline data, only one patient (0.8%) had HBsAg positive. Average duration of treatment was 9.9 years and MTX dose prescribed was 571.6 ± 240.4 mg during the last 52 weeks. Out of 173 patients, only two had clinically significant hepatitis (1.16%) and one was HBsAg positive (0.58%). Ninety-six patients (55.5%) were negative for all HBV seromarkers, 67/173 (38.7%) positive for anti-HBs antibody and 65/173 (37.6%) positive for anti-HBc IgG. Only one in 65 patients (1.5%) who had any positive HBV seromarkers had HBV DNA detectable. CONCLUSION: Prevalence of HBsAg positive rheumatologic patients treated with MTX in Thailand was only 0.58%, which was lower than the general Thai population. About one-third of the patients had exposure to HBV as demonstrated by presence of anti-HBc IgG (37.6%), but none of them had hepatitis B reactivation during 9.9 years of MTX treatment. Moreover, one case with HBsAg positive had been receiving MTX without HBV prophylaxis for 5 years but had no evidence of HBV flare and evidence of fibrosis. From our study, long-term MTX in patients exposed to HBV was safe and not associated with hepatitis flare. However, more study is needed as to whether HBV prophylaxis is required.

Prevalence and risk factors for chloroquine maculopathy and role of plasma chloroquine and desethylchloroquine concentrations in predicting chloroquine maculopathy.

AIM: To determine the prevalence and to identify the risk factors of chloroquine maculopathy (CM), and to evaluate the association of plasma chloroquine (CQ) and desethylchloroquine (DCQ) levels and CM. METHODS: Rheumatoid arthritis (RA) patients who had taken CQ for at least 6 months and stable CQ dosage for at least 2 months were included. CM was diagnosed by dilated ocular examination and automated visual field. Plasma CQ and DCQ levels were determined by liquid chromatography tandem mass spectrometry method. Logistic regression was used to explore risk factors associated with CM. RESULTS: One hundred and ninety-three patients were included with median CQ duration (range) of 50.2 months (6.0-269.8) and cumulative dose of 137.4 g (16.4-1226.5). The prevalence of CM was 13.5%. Factors associated with CM identified from univariate analysis were age > 60 years, and creatinine clearance with odds ratio (OR) (95%CI) of 5.79 (2.42, 13.84), and 0.98 (0.96, 1.00). In multivariate analysis, older age, usage > 5 years, and current dose from 2.5 mg/kg ideal body weight [IBW]/day were the factors significantly associated with CM with OR of 5.89 (2.38, 14.57), 2.94 (1.10, 7.83), and 3.32 (1.04, 10.60), respectively, while plasma CQ and DCQ showed no association with CM. CONCLUSIONS: The prevalence of CM was 13.5% among RA patients taking CQ for at least 6 months. Age > 60 years, duration of CQ usage > 5 years and current CQ dose ≥2.5 mg/kg IBW/day were the risk factors for CM. The plasma CQ or DCQ levels demonstrated no correlation in developing CM.

Antimalarial-induced maculopathy: accuracy of Amsler grid as a diagnostic tool and risk factors.

OBJECTIVE: To determine the sensitivity, specificity, and agreement of Amsler grid (AG) in detecting antimalarial induced maculopathy (AM) compared to combination of dilated ocular examination and Humphrey visual field (HVF) 10-2 and to estimate the risk factors of AM. MATERIAL AND METHOD: 20 patients with AM and 20 patients with no AM were included between October 1, 2010 and June 30, 2011 in Siriraj Hospital, Thailand. Sensitivity, specificity and unweighted kappa were used to determine accuracy of AG. Logistic regression was used to explore risk factors associated with AM. RESULTS: The sensitivity and specificity of AG were 40% and 100%, respectively. The agreement of AG and HVF 10-2 was poor with kappa of 0.4. Creatinine clearance < 60 ml/min/1.73 m2 and bilateral macular abnormality were associated with AM at the same odds ratio of 8.9 (95% confidence interval: 1.3 to 61.2). CONCLUSION: AG may be used as an additional test between ocular evaluation visits providing the availability and low cost. Patients with renal impairment and bilateral macular abnormality are associated with AM.

Epidemiology of Behcet's disease in Thai patients.

OBJECTIVE: To describe symptoms, signs, laboratory findings and to compare sensitivity of several classification criteria in Thai patients who were diagnosed with Behcet's disease. MATERIAL AND METHOD: Using medical records from the rheumatology unit, Siriraj hospital, all cases diagnosed with Behcet's disease by our rheumatology staff were identified and reviewed. Demographic data, clinical presentations, and laboratory data were collected. All cases were also reviewed if they had fulfilled any of the following criteria: Iran classification tree, Japanese, Korean, ISG and O'Duffy's criteria. The sensitivity of each criterion was calculated. RESULTS: Twenty three cases were identified during a 24 year interval (1980-2003). Our population had a mean age of 30.83 years. Common clinical presentations were recurrent oral ulcers 100% (23/23), genital ulcers 69.6% (16/23), eye involvement 52.2% (12/23), skin involvement 60.9% (14/23), GI ulcers 8.7% (2/23), epididymitis 4.3% (1/23), vascular lesions 8.7% (2/23), CNS involvement 8.7% (2/23), fever 60.9% (14/23), and positivity of the pathergy test 33.3% (3/9). The sensitivity of criteria used for diagnosis of our patients with Behcet's disease varied widely. We found that the Iran classification tree criteria had the highest sensitivity followed by those from Japan (82.6%), O'Duffy's (73.9%), ISG (52.2%), and Korean (39.1%o) criteria respectively. CONCLUSION: Behcet's disease is heterogeneous in its manifestations and clinical constellation of the disease varies widely among different parts of the world. This is the first epidemiologic study describing Thai Behcet's patients. We also found the Iran classification tree criteria had the highest sensitivity for diagnosis of Thai patients.

Epidemiology of gout: is the incidence rising?

OBJECTIVE: To determine whether the incidence of gout is higher in 1995-1996 compared to 1977-1978. METHODS: Using the Rochester Epidemiology Project computerized medical record system, all potential cases of acute gout in the city of Rochester, Minnesota during the time intervals of 1977-1978 and 1995-1996 were identified. The complete medical records of all potential cases were screened and all who fulfilled the 1977 American College of Rheumatology proposed criteria for gout were included as incidence cases. Demographic data, body mass index, clinical presentation, and associated comorbid conditions were abstracted. The overall and age-gender adjusted incidence rates from the 2 cohorts were calculated and compared. RESULTS: A total of 39 new cases of acute gout were identified during the 2 year interval 1977-1978 representing an age and sex-adjusted annual incidence rate of 45.0/100,000 (95% CI: 30.7, 59.3). For the interval 1995-1996, 81 cases were diagnosed, representing an annual incidence rate of 62.3/100,000 (95% CI: 48.4, 76.2). There was a greater than 2-fold increase in the rate of primary gout (i.e., no history of diuretic exposure) in the recent compared to the older time periods (p = 0.002). The incidence of secondary, diuretic related gout did not increase over time (p = 0.140). CONCLUSION: Our results indicate that the incidence of primary gout has increased significantly over the past 20 years. While this increase might be a result of improved ascertainment of atypical gout, it may also be related to other, as yet unidentified, risk factors.