Modes of presentation of reactive arthritis based on the affected joints.

INTRODUCTION: Reactive arthritis is an autoimmune condition that occurs as a reaction against an infection site elsewhere in the body. Reactive arthritis affects mostly young ages, mainly group age 20-40 y.o., mostly males with ratio 2:1 against females, sometimes 3:1, and even 14:1. The purpose of the study was to observe the mode of illness presentation based on the number of affected joints. MATERIAL AND METHODS: During the 01.03.2012 - 01.03.2014 in the Clinic for Rheumatology and O.S.I.R. "Vendenisi - AL" in Besiana have been examined, elaborated and hospitalized 100 patients with reactive arthritis, out of them 66 males and 34 females. Patients underwent necessary laboratory, hematological, biochemical, and immunological examinations. Subsequently each affected joint has been examined based on the propedeutics rules (inspection, palpation and assessment of the level of motility), as well as x ray examination. RESULTS: From 100 examined patients 66% were males and 34% females respectively. 11% of them were in the 10-20y.o. group age, 30% belonged to group age 21-30 y.o., 24% of patients to 31-40 y.o. group age, 30% to 41-50 y.o. group age, and 5% of patients to the group age over the 51 year old. Regarding the affected articulations and modes of illness presentation, we've obtained the following results: Knee was affected in 64.7% female and 52,12% male patients respectively, T/C joint in 50% female and 57.57% male patients, MTPH joint in 41.11% female and 48.48% male patients respectively, and R/C joint in 44.11% female and 48.48% male patients respectively. Oligoarticular type is seen in 73% male and 70% female patients. Monoarticular type is seen in 14% male and 13% female patients, and poliarticular type is seen in 10% male and 14% female patients respectively. Results from our study have revealed that: reactive arthritis is more frequent in males than females in ratio 2:1 in the infections of urogenital infection, 3:1 in nasopharyngeal infections, and similar in infections of enteral origin. CONCLUSION: Reactive arthritis mostly attacks young ages 20-40 y.o., while over the age of 50 and below the age of 20 is rarely seen. First reactive arthritis attack in males occurs earlier than in females. Most affected joints are: knee, talocrural joint, metatarsophalangeal (MTPH) joint, radiocarpal (R/C) joint, and proximal interphalanteal (PIPH) joint. Oligoarticular mode of illness presentation is 2.5 more frequent than mono and poliarticular mode of illness presentation.

Evaluation of thrombocytopenia in systemic lupus erythematosus and correlation with different organs damages.

INTRODUCTION: Thrombocytopenia is highly prevalent among patients with Systemic Lupus Erythematous(SLE) and at the same time it has been reported that a correlation exists between Thrombocytopenia and organ damage. The aim of this study is to highlight the correlation between Thrombocytopenia and the clinical manifestations of SLE. OBJECTIVES: The objective is to show the clinical manifestations and organ damage of Systemic Lupus Erythematous (SLE) patients who have been found to have Thrombocytopenia. METHODS: A retrospective study was conducted examining all patient charts diagnosed and treated for SLE at the Rheumatology Service of Mother Teresa Hospital Centre. All the data were collected from discharged patient charts. The data included were Anti DNA,AAN,C3 , thrombocytopenia, leucopenia, and organ damage. Data were taken from 2009 to 2013. The classification criteria of the American College of Rheumatology was used for all patients regarding the diagnosis. RESULTS: Out of 330 patients, 12 (3.64%) are men and 318 (96.3%) women. 73 of all patients have thrombocytopenia as cases and 257 patients had SLE without thrombocytopenia, which was considered as the control group. AAN 68(93.1%), Anti DNA 50 (64.3%) , low value of C3 46 (63%), and leucopenia were higher in thrombocytopenic patients compared with control group (p<0.05) 48 (65.7%) of thrombocytopenic patients develop lupus nephritis, 10 (13.6%) were with pulmonary involvement, and 42 (57.5%) had leukopenia. CONCLUSION: Thrombocytopenia is not directly associated with any disease activity, organ damage and mortality, but it should be considered as a prognostic factor which may help identifying a category of patients whose disease course can be aggravated.

An epidemiological study on ankylosing spondylitis in southern Albania.

OBJECTIVES: To evaluate the incidence and prevalence of ankylosing spondylitis (AS) in southern Albania and to assess the association of various demographic risk factors with the severity of disease. MATERIAL AND METHODS: This is an observational study with cross-sectional analyses, conducted in the region of Gjirokaster, between 1995 until 2011. The diagnosis of AS was based on the modified New York criteria. Data on population are obtained from the reports of the National Institute of Statistics. RESULTS: Between 1995 and 2011, there were 54 patients diagnosed with AS. Of them, 48 subjects were males (88.9%) and 6 subjects females (11.1%). The AS prevalence in adult population (≥14 years of age), in December 2010, was 0.061%. The 5-year incidence (2006-2010) in adult population was 0.006 %. The mean age at the onset of disease was 29.7±8.4 years. The mean age in 2011 (n=50 subjects) was 51.6±12.7 years. The duration of the disease was 22.7±11.2 years. More than two thirds of the patients (70.3%) were in the advanced radiological stages of the disease. A younger age at the onset of the disease, longer delay in diagnosis, lower educational level and smoking were significant independent factors associated with the advanced forms of the disease. CONCLUSION: In southern Albania, the AS prevalence in 2010 was 0.061% and the 5-year incidence (2006-2010) was 6 new cases per 105 adults. The incidence and prevalence of AS in Southern Albania are close to the respective regional epidemiological data.

Epidemiology of rheumatoid arthritis in tirana, Albania.

CONFLICT OF INTEREST: none declared. AIM: Rheumatoid arthritis is considered a clinical syndrome across several disease subsets characterized by systemic inflammation, persistent synovitis, and autoantibodies. Our aim was to assess the distribution of risk factors among people diagnosed with rheumatoid arthritis in the adult population of Tirana, the capital city of Albania. METHODS: All individuals diagnosed with rheumatoid arthritis in primary health care services of Tirana city during the period 2009-2012 were included in this study. The diagnosis of rheumatoid arthritis was based on the clinical signs and symptoms and laboratory tests including measurement of the rheumatoid factor. RESULTS: Overall, there were identified 817 cases with rheumatoid arthritis in all primary health care centers of Tirana for the period 2009-2012. Of these, 529 (65%) were women and 288 (35%) were men. Genetic factors accounted for 60% of the diseases in women and 45% in men (P<0.001). In both sexes, the proportion of older individuals was higher compared with younger adults. Most of the individuals with rheumatoid were from urban areas of Tirana. CONCLUSION: Our study provides new evidence about the distribution of risk factors of rheumatoid arthritis in transitional Albania where valid and reliable data about this disease were scarce. Future studies in Albania should assess the prevalence of rheumatoid arthritis in population-based samples.

The efficiency of Bonviva (Ibadronate) in women with pre-post menopause.

AIM: our aim was to see the efficiency of Bonviva(Ibadronates) among in osteoporoses among women. OBJECTIVES: We chose this medicament which has the most acceptable price by all the GDP women's family and also this medicament which is at the new line of biphosphonate (Ibadronates), and has the most commodity of taken ones per monthly. For our proposal we include in our study all women age 45 -60 years old (average 52.6 +/- 41), which have a physiologic menopause. All case was selected from ambulatory service without other diseases such are neoplasic which affect the bone, renal (creatinine clirens < 40 ml/min), gastrointestinal, respiratory and high blood pressure were or have allergy from Bonviva excluded or from our study. The final number of subjects was 89 women. The women at the moment of selection have or no osteoporotic fracture. We measure also the high, age, weight, BMI but except age other were not analyzed form us. The measure of body mass density (BMD) is the gold standard for to establish the diagnosis of osteoporosis. All subjects we measure the index of T-score (which represent the BMD), at the lumbar part of spine, which show the efficiency of Bonviva. T-Score was measure before treatment, after six months and after one year. The T-score was measure by DE XA (lunate one). RESULTS: In order to measure the efficiency of Bonvines all cases the T-Score were analyzed from SPSS version 15 with ANOVA. The results of ANOVA show statistical significance (p < 0.0001) between BMD before treatment (-3.12 +/- 0.49), BMD six months after treatment (-2.9 +/- 0.5) and after BMD one year (-2.7 +/- 0.5). The significance was also high (P < 0.0001) when we compare also BMD six month and after one year. CONCLUSIONS: Our results show the efficiency of Bonviva among women with pre, during and post menopause in osteoporoses. Ibadronate (Bonviva) increase the BMD in women with early menopauses, as results we prevent osteoporosis. Bonviva increases the BMD in women with established osteoporoses, as results we reduce the vertebral risk fracture.