Primary prevention of glucocorticoid-induced osteoporosis with intravenous pamidronate and calcium: a prospective controlled 1-year study comparing a single infusion, an infusion given once every 3 months, and calcium alone.

The aim of this study was to compare the action of two regimens of intravenous (iv) pamidronate in the primary prevention of glucocorticoid-induced osteoporosis (GC-OP). The primary purpose of the study was to determine whether any differences in bone mineral density (BMD) appeared after 1 year. A secondary endpoint aimed at assessing the remodeling parameters in order to better understand the mechanisms of action of the various regimens. Thirty-two patients, who required first-time, long-term glucocorticoid therapy at a daily dose of at least 10 mg of prednisolone, were studied. Simultaneously with the initiation of their glucocorticoid treatment, patients also were randomly allocated to receive a single iv infusion of 90 mg of pamidronate at the start (group A); a first infusion of 90 mg of pamidronate followed, subsequently, by an iv infusion of 30 mg pamidronate every 3 months (group B); and a daily 800-mg elemental calcium supplement given as calcium carbonate (group C), which also was taken by patients in groups A and B. Patients were matched for starting glucocorticoid doses, sex, menopausal status, and hormonal replacement therapy. Lumbar spine and hip (total and subregions) BMDs were measured at the outset and repeated at 6-month intervals by dual-energy X-ray absorptiometry (DXA; Hologic QDR-2000). Bone turnover was assessed by measurement of total and bone-specific serum alkaline phosphatase activity (B-ALP), serum osteocalcin (OC), and serum C-telopeptide cross-links of type I collagen (CTX). After 1 year, the mean BMD changes for groups A, B, and C were, respectively, 1.7, 2.3, and -4.6% at the lumbar spine; 1.2, 1.2, and -3.1% at the femoral neck; 1.0, 2.6, and -2.2% for the total hip region. No difference was observed between pamidronate regimens but a highly significant difference was observed between both pamidronate regimens and the control group at the lumbar spine (p < 0.001), at the femoral neck (p < 0.01), and for the total hip (p < 0.05). A significant decrease of serum C-telopeptide was observed, after 3 months, in groups A and B (p = 0.029), but a sustained decrease of bone resorption over time was observed only in group B. As far as BMD evolution over 1 year was concerned, iv pamidronate, given either as a single infusion or once every 3 months, effectively achieved primary prevention of GC-OP.

Abdominal wall weakness and lumboabdominal pain revealing neuroborreliosis: a report of three cases.

The authors report three cases of thoracic radiculoneuropathy disclosing neuroborreliosis. All three patients had low back and abdominal pain and two had marked abdominal wall paresis. EMG confirmed a motor involvement of the lower thoracic roots and CSF analysis revealed a lymphocytic meningitis in all three cases. Antibodies against Borrelia burgdorferi were present in both the serum and the CSF. A favourable outcome was obtained in all three patients with appropriate antibiotherapy. The differential diagnosis of this misleading presentation is discussed.

Viral brachial neuritis in emergency medicine.

Brachial plexus neuritis is a rare neurologic disease that may be overlooked in emergency medicine because other conditions are much more common. We report a case of brachial plexus neuropathy due to cytomegalovirus infection. The diagnosis was based on history, clinical findings, laboratory tests, and electromyography. Early diagnosis and adequate treatment is important to avoid unnecessary investigation, prevent complications (especially adhesive capsulitis of the shoulder), and reassure the patient.

Subacromial-subdeltoid lipoma arborescens associated with a rotator cuff tear.

A 44-year-old man presented with lipoma arborescens of the right shoulder, associated with a rotator cuff tear. MRI revealed villous proliferations with signal intensity of fat on all pulse sequences. At surgery, this bursa was found to contain moderately yellow cloudy fluid without fat globules. Histological examination of the lesion showed subsynovial accumulation of mature fat cells.

Axillary schwannoma masquerading as cervical radiculopathy.

A 58-year-old woman, suffering from radicular-like pain in the left arm for 3 years, presented an entirely negative cervical imaging. Careful clinical examination disclosed Tinel's sign in the axilla. This clinical finding led to further investigation of this region. Computed tomography and magnetic resonance imaging disclosed a small tumour highly suggestive of a schwannoma. Surgical exploration and microscopic examination confirmed a diagnosis of schwannoma located on the radial trunk of the left brachial plexus. After tumour excision, the patient had immediate relief of pain without sensitive or motor sequelae. No recurrence has been observed after 3 years.

Adult onset of multifocal eosinophilic granuloma of bone: a long-term follow-up with evaluation of various treatment options and spontaneous healing.

We report a case of multifocal-monosystemic Langerhans cell histiocytosis (LCH), formerly usually referred to as eosinophilic granuloma (EG) of bone. The condition developed in a 36-year-old man. A notable infrequent thoracic spine location and two successive distinct costal lesions were observed. Both the first costal site and the vertebral location healed spontaneously; the second costal lesion underwent biopsy resection. The patient's disease course with an 8-year follow-up is discussed with reference to various treatment options, emphasising in selected cases a watchful conservative approach, in view of the widely documented potential for spontaneous healing.

Novel nonsteroidal anti-inflammatory drugs.

The authors first briefly review how the concept of COX-2 selectivity was brought to light, then tested against the known gastrotoxicity ranking of currently used NSAIDs, from the old classics to the most recent. One truly selective COX-2 agent--celecoxib--is now being marketed in an ever increasing number of countries. So far it seems to keep its main promises, i.e. high--albeit not total--safety regarding gastrointestinal adverse effects, and undisturbed platelet function. Association with warfarin drugs seems to raise no problems, but one should still be wary of possible renal side-effects. Efficacy, at least as assessed in osteoarthritis and rheumatoid patients, appears satisfactory. However, treatment of intense inflammatory crises, such as gout or ankylosing spondylitis, has not been assessed, as yet. Another COX-2 agent--rofecoxib--is on the brink of being released. Its even more potent COX-2 selectivity raises new issues. What about some COX-1 activity that several authors detected in rheumatic synovitis? On the other hand, in particular circumstances, organs such as the stomach, the kidney and small blood vessels, seem to have their homeostasis partly controlled by COX-2 mechanisms also. These questions should be answered soon, whilst clinical experience with the COX-2 agent builds up.

Monoarticular chronic synovitis in a child.

Lipoma arborescens is a villous lipomatous proliferation of the synovial membrane characterized by chronic and painless synovial effusion. The aetiology is unknown. It has to be included in the differential diagnosis of chronic monoarticular disease in childhood. Magnetic resonance imaging provides a highly efficient tool for the diagnosis of this very rare condition. This is indeed the fourth paediatric case reported. Rather than resorting to the often inconvenient surgical synovectomy commonly recommended, we chose to treat the knee of this 13-yr-old boy with intra-articular osmic acid.

Primary prevention of glucocorticoid-induced osteoporosis with intermittent intravenous pamidronate: a randomized trial.

The aim of this study was to assess whether early intermittent I.V. administration of disodium pamidronate can effectively achieve primary prevention of glucocorticoid-induced osteoporosis (GIOP). A total of 27 in- or outpatients who required first-time, long-term corticosteroid therapy at a daily dose of at least 10 mg prednisolone were studied. Patients were randomly selected to receive either pamidronate and calcium or calcium alone. Patients allocated to pamidronate treatment (pamidronate group) received a first intravenous infusion of 90 mg pamidronate simultaneously with the initiation of their steroid treatment. Subsequently, they received 30 mg pamidronate, intravenously, every 3 months, for as long as steroid therapy was continued. As with the control patients (calcium group), they were put on a daily 800-mg elemental calcium supplement given as calcium carbonate. Lumbar spine and hip (total and subregions) bone mineral densities (BMDs) were measured at the start and every 3-months by dual-energy X-ray absorptiometry (Hologic(R) QDR-2000). Over 1 year, the pamidronate group showed a significant BMD increase in the lumbar spine (3.6%), and at all sites of the hip (2.2% at the femoral neck). In the calcium group, a significant BMD reduction was registered at the lumbar spine (-5.3%) and at the femoral neck (-5.3%). Differences between the groups were significant at all sites measured. Intermittent intravenous pamidronate effectively achieves primary prevention of GIOP, as assessed by BMD measurements over 1 year.

[Ankylosing spondylarthritis and partial cauda equina syndrome. Apropos of 4 cases and review of the literature]. / Spondylarthrite ankylosante et syndrome partiel de la queue de cheval. A propos de quatre cas, et revue de la littérature.

Four new cases of ankylosing spondylitis complicated by a cauda equina syndrome are reported. Similarly to the previous descriptions, the patients present with long-standing and severe spondylitis at the time when neurological symptoms, mainly radicular pain, develop. Computed tomography of the lumbar spine demonstrates in all cases typical laminar erosions and posterior arachnoid diverticula. Up to now, magnetic resonance imaging has rarely been performed in this particular pathology, though it is helpful in determining the anatomical relations and the nature of the lesions. Based on the previous publications, our study aims at describing the clinical and pathogenic aspects of the disease and defining the most useful diagnostic investigations and treatment choices. Therapeutic possibilities are often limited because of a late diagnosis. Better knowledge of this rare complication could lead to earlier recognition and more efficient therapy.

Spontaneous healing of aneurysmal bone cysts. A report of three cases.

We report three cases of spontaneous healing of aneurysmal bone cysts (ABC). In one case histological material was obtained after resection of the already ossified expansile mass discovered as a lytic lesion seven months previously. In the two other patients, spontaneous ossification of a radiologically presumed ABC in the lytic and expansile phase was observed after nine and seven months respectively. The healed lesions have remained stable at 12, 32, and 36 months respectively. These findings suggest that when the diagnosis can be made with confidence, and the lesion is in a location and at a stage that does not entail any risk of fracture or compression, expectant management should be considered. Our three patients were aged 22, 19 and 18 years, older than usual for developing ABC. This is also true for many of the few other reported cases of spontaneous or almost spontaneous healing and suggests that ABC has a greater tendency to stabilise in older patients.

Juvenile scleroderma and collagenous colitis. The first case.

We report the first case of coexisting progressive systemic sclerosis and collagenous colitis in a 12-year-old girl.

Pustulotic arthroosteitis and chronic recurrent multifocal osteomyelitis in children. Report of three cases.

We describe 3 children with pustulosis palmaris et plantaris associated with chronic recurrent (multifocal) osteomyelitis, located in the clavicle in 2 patients, and in the distal fibula as well as in several metatarsals in the third. The first 2 children also developed inflammatory sacroiliitis, one with chronic peripheral polyarthritis. These 3 cases represent the arthrosteitis and chronic recurrent multifocal osteomyelitis syndrome associated with palmoplantar pustulosis.

[Loss of digital substance in rheumatic diseases. Apropos of 43 cases]. / Pertes de substances digitales dans les maladies rhumatismales. A propos de 43 observations.

The authors briefly summarize 16 cases involving digital necrosis observed in the course of rheumatic disorders (3 carpal tunnel syndromes, 2 cases of panarteritis, 2 of rheumatoid arthritis, 2 of lupus erythematosus, 2 of scleroderma, 2 of dermatomyositis, 1 of adult form of Still's disease, 1 of gout, and 1 case of cryoglobulinemia). In addition the case reports of 129 patients with connective tissue disease were reviewed (74 cases of disseminated lupus erythematosus, 43 of scleroderma, and 12 mixed connective tissue disorders). Soft tissue destruction of digits was observed in 15, 39 and 25% of these patients respectively, and true tissue necrosis of varying extent in 7, 9 and 0% of these cases. The incidence and pathogenic mechanisms responsible for these disorders and lesions were discussed.

New modes of administration of salmon calcitonin in Paget's disease. Nasal spray and suppository.

In volunteers the activity of various doses of a nasal spray and of a suppository of salmon calcitonin was compared to a placebo and to the parenteral route of administration. Both new modes of administration were found to be active on the kidney (and the suppository was found to affect bone turnover as well). The parenteral route proved more effective, but the nasal and/or rectal routes were devoid of systemic side effects and had minimal local intolerance. The nasal spray was used at 200 units daily in 15 patients with Paget's disease, and at 400 units daily in another nine patients, both trials lasting one year. The two regimens proved active on the parameters of bone turnover and the higher dose was more effective than the lower one. Similarly, a 300 unit suppository was given to another 12 patients. This trial is still being completed at this time. At the third month of therapy, the parameters of bone turnover were significantly depressed. Both new modes of therapy were able to improve the focal bone balance of the osteolytic lesions monitored on sequential roentgenograms. Systemic side effects were absent and local side effects were minimal. Only one patient interrupted the nasal spray therapy, and no one interrupted the suppository therapy.

Pustulotic arthro-osteitis in children and adults. A report of 13 cases.

Thirteen cases of pustulotic arthro-osteitis are reported: 3 children and 10 adults. The clinical and radiological aspects of this rare entity are discussed as well as the classification of this disease in the context of seronegative spondyloarthropathies.

Reflex sympathetic dystrophy syndrome: an unusual mode of presentation of osteomalacia.

We report 2 patients with reflex sympathetic dystrophy syndrome (RSDS) associated with renal tubular osteomalacia. In both patients, RSDS was the presenting manifestation. Treatment of the underlying condition with calcitriol resulted in healing in both patients. These cases prompted us to undertake a retrospective study of 24 consecutive patients with osteomalacia (6 of renal tubular origin, 18 related to vitamin D deficiency), and of 259 consecutive patients with RSDS. Among those with osteomalacia, radiologic lesions strongly suggestive of RSDS were found in 5 patients (21%), 4 of whom had renal tubular defects, and only 1 had vitamin D deficiency. In the group with RSDS, 1 patient (0.4%) was found to have osteomalacia of renal tubular origin. Thus, radiologic findings suggestive of RSDS are frequent in patients with osteomalacia, especially that of renal tubular origin. On rare occasions, the full-blown clinical picture of RSDS may obscure the diagnosis of osteomalacia.