[The R3SPE syndrome. Presentation of 3 clinical cases]. / El síndrome R3SPE. Presentación de 3 casos clínicos.

The R3SPE syndrome represents a new disorder included in the inflammatory rheumatisms of old age, being related to rheumatoid arthritis. It differs from the latter in some clinical and evolutive peculiarities. Its etiology and pathogenesis are unknown. The best treatment, purely symptomatic, consists of the association of aspirin and synthetic antimalarial drugs. Low-dose corticosteroids are very effective in initial stages. We report three patients and their clinical, evolutive and therapeutic features.

[Chondrocalcinosis: a diagnostic-therapeutic approach. Presentation of 10 clinical cases]. / Condrocalcinosis: enfoque diagnóstico-terapéutico. Presentación de 10 casos clínicos.

The disease caused by the deposition of dehydrated calcium pyrophosphate crystals (chondrocalcinosis) is a metabolic joint disease poorly known outside rheumatologic media. It is estimated that about 5% of the adult population has deposits in the knees and that prevalence increases with age. The incidence of symptomatic disease is about the same as that of gout. The clinical presentation is variable, from pseudogouty forms, pseudorheumatoid arthritis or secondary degenerative joint disease, to 20% of asymptomatic cases. In the systematic evaluation family history should be sought, and metabolic diseases such as gout, diabetes, hemochromatosis, hyperparathyroidism and hypothyroidism should be ruled out. The condition is treated with nonsteroidal antiinflammatory drugs, and although the outcome is generally favorable, severe destructive joint disease may develop. In the present article we review this condition on the basis of the presentation forms of 10 of our patients.