Superolateral erosions of the humeral head in chronic inflammatory arthropathies.

Erosive lesions on the superolateral aspect of the humeral head were studied in 127 patients with chronic inflammatory arthropathies including rheumatoid arthritis (RA), juvenile rheumatoid arthritis (JRA), ankylosing spondylitis (AS), and psoriatic arthropathy (PA), as well as in a control group of 53 patients with non-inflammatory shoulder joint disease. Superolateral erosions were found in 39 out of 127 patients (31%), comprising 11/56 RA cases (20%), 22/50 JRA cases (44%), 4/9 cases of AS (44%), and 2/12 cases of PA (17%), but were absent in non-inflammatory disorders. Two morphologically distinct types of erosions were observed, an extensive one, present in all of the inflammatory conditions studied, and a circumscribed one occurring predominantly in JRA patients.

Tendinous and ligamentous hyperlaxity in patients receiving longterm hemodialysis.

Chronic renal insufficiency gives rise to osteoarticular and tendinous alterations, with tendinous rupture reaching 3.6% among patients receiving hemodialysis. To evaluate potential tendinous and ligamentous alterations, 39 consecutive patients receiving longterm hemodialysis (mean dialysis time 33 months) were studied prospectively by clinicoradiological methods. Of the 39 cases, atlantoaxial subluxation was found in 3 (7.7%). Tendinous or ligamentous hyperlaxity was present in 29 (74%) with patellar tendon elongation in 19 (49%), articular hypermobility in 20 (51%) and both in 10. Differences were significant (p less than 0.05) in patients with articular hypermobility with over 36 months' dialysis, and even more so (p less than 0.01) in those with over 48 months. Atlantoaxial subluxation was more frequent after 48 months' dialysis. Therefore, patients receiving longterm hemodialysis are prone to present tendinous or ligamentous hyperlaxity with atlantoaxial subluxation as well.

Atlantoaxial subluxation in systemic lupus erythematosus: further evidence of tendinous alterations.

We prospectively determined the frequency of atlantoaxial subluxation in a group of patients with systemic lupus erythematosus (SLE) and analyzed its relationship with tendinous laxity, Jaccoud's syndrome and other features of the disease. Five of 59 patients (8.5%) had atlantoaxial subluxation. No patient presented atlantoaxial subluxation in neutral lateral cervical radiographs but all 5 had anterior atlantoaxial subluxation in full flexion films; one patient also had lateral subluxation. The 5 patients with atlantoaxial subluxation were compared with the remaining 54. Mean SLE disease duration was longer in patients with atlantoaxial subluxation (12 years) than in those without (6.6 years) (p less than 0.01). Jaccoud's syndrome, patellar tendon elongation and articular hypermobility were significantly more frequent in patients with atlantoaxial subluxation. The presence or history of arthritis failed to distinguish patients with and without atlantoaxial subluxation, while chronic renal failure and increased serum parathyroid hormone levels were significantly associated to the presence of atlantoaxial subluxation. We suggest that atlantoaxial subluxation is further evidence of tendinous alterations seen in patients with SLE.

Tendinous laxity and Jaccoud's syndrome in patients with systemic lupus erythematosus. Possible role of secondary hyperparathyroidism.

Fourteen of 52 unselected patients with systemic lupus erythematosus (SLE) (27%) had ligamentous derangement demonstrated by either Jaccoud's syndrome and/or patellar tendon elongation. Three cases had only Jaccoud's syndrome, 4 isolated patellar tendinous laxity, while the remaining 7 presented both findings. Jaccoud's syndrome and/or tendinous laxity were not associated to an increased frequency of arthritis, corticosteroid therapy or a longer disease duration, but significantly associated with increased serum PTH levels secondary to chronic renal failure. Hyperparathyroidism secondary to chronic renal failure should, therefore, be considered a potential factor contributing to the development of Jaccoud's syndrome and/or tendinous laxity in patients with SLE.

Clinical and serologic characteristics of patients with overlap syndrome: is mixed connective tissue disease a distinct clinical entity?

We discuss the clinical and serologic features of 27 patients with overlap syndrome followed prospectively by our group. The findings are similar to those of other reports, but we have drawn attention to the presence of peritendinous nodules in these patients and mentioned some peculiar neurologic manifestations. Rheumatoid arthritis was the most common diagnosis in our patients. The presence of high-titer antibodies against the nuclear ribonucleoprotein fraction of extractable nuclear antigen (nRNP) did not allow the identification of a particular subgroup. However, patients with this antibody tended to fulfill more criteria of more diseases than those without it. The findings lead us to conclude that antibodies to nRNP do not identify a particular subgroup within the overlap syndromes and that mixed connective tissue disease does not appear to be a distinct entity.

Laxity and rupture of the patellar tendon in systemic lupus erythematosus. Association with secondary hyperparathyroidism.

We describe a patient with systemic lupus erythematosus, chronic renal failure and secondary hyperparathyroidism who developed laxity and elongation of the patellar tendon, followed by its rupture one year later. Hydroxyapatite and urate crystals were identified from the chalky material surrounding the patellar tendon observed at surgery. These findings suggest that tendon laxity and elongation could possibly be detected before its rupture and that secondary hyperparathyroidism could be considered as another causative factor of tendon damage in patients with systemic lupus erythematosus.

Peritendinous nodules in overlap syndrome.

Peritendinous nodules were observed in 4 patients with overlap syndrome. In all cases they were multiple, minute and located around the flexor tendons of the forearms and the extensor tendons of the hands. Similar nodules were also found on the extensor aspect of elbows, dorsum of the feet, hamstring muscles and Achilles tendons. Common histologic features were inflammatory granuloma with scattered areas of fibrinoid necrosis, mononuclear cell infiltration and occasional vasculitic lesions. Multiple peritendinous nodules should be considered another clinical feature of overlap syndrome.