[What factors determine the direct medical costs of patients with systemic lupus erythematosus in Germany? Subanalysis of the LUCIE study]. / Welche Faktoren bestimmen die direkten Krankheits-kosten bei Patienten mit Systemischem Lupus Erythe-matodes in Deutschland? - Subanalyse der LUCIE-Studie.

OBJECTIVES: The aim of this study was to evaluate annual direct medical costs of adult SLE patients with active autoantibody positive disease on medication in Germany. METHODS: A multicentre, observational, retrospective European study with German sub-analysis was performed. Costs were assessed according to national tariffs. RESULTS: 10 German centres included 77 patients. The mean (SD) annual direct medical costs of patients were € 3 452.21 (3 777.07), and were 3.4 times higher in severe than non-severe patients (€ 5 291.07 vs. 1 564.97; p<0.001). Cost of medication (€ 2 349.40) represented 68.1% of the total cost. Flares, especially severe flares, were identified as cost predictors. Each flare increased the annual total cost by € 2 164,01 (p<0,001). CONCLUSION: The annual direct medical cost of SLE patients in Germany is linked to disease severity. Medical treatments and severe flares were identified as the cost predictors and drivers, respectively.

[Complications and therapy after arthroscopic interventions of the knee joint]. / Komplikationen und deren Therapie nach arthroskopischen Eingriffen am Kniegelenk.

Complications following arthroscopic knee surgery are known from the literature to be relatively rare. It hence is all the more important for the rehabilitation staff to know the possible risks for complications. Usually it is quite sufficient to perform a good clinical examination in case of complications in order to be able to carry out the necessary therapeutic measures in regular contact with the surgeons involved. Among the most dangerous complications requiring immediate therapy are the extraarticular vascular complication, the knee joint infection, and the intraarticular bleeding complication. Responsible teamwork among surgeons and rehabilitation staff will be the key to a successful treatment outcome.

[Electron beam computerized tomography (EBCT) of the heart]. / Electron-beam-Computertomographie (EBCT) des Herzens.

Using electron-beam computed tomography (EBCT) with short exposure times of 100 or 50 ms and the capability of acquiring up to 2 x 17 images/s it is possible to study most of the important morphological and functional determinants of the heart. Various examples of studies in acute and chronic cardiac diseases are shown to demonstrate the use of EBCT to determine quantitatively left ventricular volumes (ml), myocardial mass (g), wall thickness changes over the cardiac cycle (mm/s), myocardial perfusion (ml/ 100 g/min) and the extent of coronary calcification (calcium score) and qualitatively the state of the proximal 4-6 cm of the subepicardial coronary arteries. The knowledge of these determinants seems very useful in excluding cardiac dysfunction, in the early recognition of cardiac disease and in the evaluation of the haemodynamic severity of coronary artery stenotic lesions. Further interdisciplinary studies are necessary to assess the clinical validity of these cardiac determinants, especially myocardial perfusion, using this advanced CT technology.

[Clinical experience from antenatal CTG evaluation techniques according to Fischer, Hammacher, Hodr, and Kubi. Third communication: Score according to Hodr (author's transl)]. / Klinische Erfahrungen mit dem antenatalen CTG-Auswertungsverfahren nach Fischer, Hammacher, Hodr und Kubli III. Mitteilung: Score nach Hodr.

Evaluation on the basis of Hodr's CTG score was undertaken of 1,239 antepartum cardiotocograms obtained from 1,239 pregnant women. Inconspicuous cardiotocograms were obtained from 1,114 patients, that is 89.9 per cent, while dubious or prepathological findings were recorded from 123 women (nine per cent) and clearly pathological cardiotocographic findings from two. Predictions were correct in 1,019 cases (82.4 per cent), falsely positive in 147 cases (11.8 per cent), and falsely negative in 71 cases (5.7 per cent).

[Clinical experience obtained from use of antepartum CTG-evaluation technique, according to Fischer, Hammacher, Hodr, and Kubli. Fourth communication: score according to Kubli (author's transl)]. / Klinische Erfahrungen mit den antepartelen CTG-Auswerteverfahren nach Fischer, Hammacher, Hodr und Kubli. IV. Mitteilung: score nauch Kubli.

A total of 1,239 antepartum cardiotocograms, obtained from the same number of pregnant women, was evaluated on the basis of the CTG score proposed by Kubli. The cardiotocograms were unconspicuous, that is non-contributory, in the context of 752 patients (60.7 per cent), while 400 (32.3 per cent) gave rise to suspicion, and 87 (7.0 per cent) were pathological. Predictions were correct in 736 cases (59.5 per cent), falsely positive in 91 cases (7.4 per cent), and falsely negative in 410 cases (33.1 per cent).

[Clinical experience obtained from antepartal CTG evaluation according to Fischer, Hammacher, Hodr, and Kubli. Second communication: Hammacher score (author's transl)]. / Klinische Erfahrungen mit den antepartalen CTG-Auswerteverfahren nach Fischer, Hammacher, Hodr und Kubli. II. Mitteilung: Hammacher-Score.

One antepartal cardiotocogram each was taken from 1,239 pregnant women and evaluated by means of theCGT score, as proposed by Hammacher and co-workers. Inconspicuous cardiotocograms were recorded from 1,090 patients (88.0 per cent), while 124 (10.0 per cent) were suspicious, 20 (1.6 per cent) prepathological, and five (0.4 per cent) pathological. Forecasts of newborns' conditions were correct in 994 cases (80.4 per cent), erroneously positive in 140 cases (11.3 per cent), and erroneously negative in 103 cases (8.3 per cent).