Long-term growth and final adult height outcome in childhood-onset systemic lupus erythematosus.

BACKGROUND: Growth impairment is the most common complication in patients with childhood-onset systemic lupus erythematosus (cSLE). There are limited data on risk factors affecting growth development in Asian patients with cSLE. This study aimed to determine the predictors of growth impairment in such patients. METHODS: All SLE patients aged < 15 years diagnosed in Ramathibodi Hospital between 2006 and 2016 were enrolled in a retrospective cohort study. Baseline characteristics, including height, weight, clinical manifestations, disease activity score, and medications, were reviewed from medical records from the time at diagnosis to achievement of final adult height (FAH). Age at menarche in girls, adult voice appearance in boys, and parental height were collected by interview. Parent-adjusted FAH (PaFAH) Z-score was calculated as the difference between FAH Z-score for chronological age of the patients and their mid parental height-Z score. The patients were classified into two groups: (1) normal growth (PaFAH Z-score ≥ - 1.5, 2) growth impairment (PaFAH Z-score < - 1.5). Descriptive statistics and logistic regression analysis were used to analyze the data. RESULTS: Of 106 cSLE patients, 19 (18%) were male and 87 (82%) were female. The mean age at study enrollment was 20.6 ± 3.0 years, mean age at diagnosis 12.1 ± 2.3 years, and mean age at achievement of FAH 17.5 ± 1.9 years. Growth impairment was found in 23.6% of patients (52.6% in boys and 17.2% in girls). Predictors of growth impairment were male sex, duration of disease before menarche in girls and adult voice appearance in boys, and cumulative corticosteroid dose (prednisolone equivalent) ≥230 mg/kg received before the late phase of puberty, with odds ratios of 7.07 (95%CI 2.11-23.74), 1.26 (95% CI 1.02-1.56), and 6.99 (95%CI 1.63-30.02), respectively. CONCLUSIONS: One-fourth of cSLE patients developed growth impairment, which mostly affected male patients. Longer duration of disease before the late phase of puberty and corticosteroid dose ≥230 mg/kg received before the late phase of puberty were factors predictive of growth impairment.

The comparisons between thermography and ultrasonography with physical examination for wrist joint assessment in juvenile idiopathic arthritis.

OBJECTIVE: This study aimed to assess infrared thermography (IRT) and ultrasonography (US) for detecting wrist arthritis in juvenile idiopathic arthritis (JIA) patients. Although IRT could help us in detecting joint inflammation, IRT studies in JIA patients with wrist arthritis are still limited. Currently, no validated US criteria exist for detecting arthritis, and the most useful parameters between gray-scale ultrasound (GSUS) or power Doppler ultrasound (PDUS) remain unclear. APPROACH: Forty-six JIA patients were included in this study. Detecting wrist arthritis at varying degrees using IRT and US were compared with physical examination. MAIN RESULTS: Sixteen patients had previous wrist arthritis that is currently inactive and 30 still had wrist arthritis. The median ages (IQR) were 7.7 (4.3) and 10.2 (4.8) years, respectively. Fifteen healthy participants were included, with a median age (IQR) of 9.2 (2.0) years. Using IRT, mean temperature (T mean) and maximum temperature (T max) at skin surface in the region of interest (ROI) in the arthritis group were higher than in the inactive group and the healthy controls with p < 0.05. When patients with arthritis were subgroup analyzed by disease severity based on physical examination, the moderate to severe arthritis had T mean and T max higher than the mild arthritis group with statistical significance. The heat distribution index (HDI), two standard deviations of all pixel temperature values in the ROI, in the moderate to severe arthritis group was higher than in the healthy controls (p = 0.027). The receiver operating characteristic analysis in arthritis detection revealed diagnostic sensitivity of 85.7% and 71.4% and specificity of 80.0% and 93.3% at cut-off points of T mean ⩾ 31.0 °C and T max ⩾ 32.3 °C, respectively. For US, GSUS and PDUS are useful in detecting arthritis, providing high sensitivity (83.3%) and specificity (81.3%). SIGNIFICANCE: Our study demonstrated that both IRT and US were applicable tools for detecting wrist arthritis.

PRIMARY STERNAL TUBERCULOSIS: A CASE REPORT AND LITERATURE REVIEW.

Mycobacterium tuberculosis can infect multiple organs and may rarely cause osteomyelitis of the sternum. We report a patient with primary sternal tuberculosis who presented with a chest wall mass. A core needle biopsy confirmed the diagnosis-of tuberculosis. We review the literature regarding tuberculous osteomyelitis of the sternum.

Radiological findings in 31 patients with chondroblastoma in tubular and non-tubular bones.

INTRODUCTION: This study aimed to evaluate radiological findings in patients with chondroblastoma (CB) in tubular and non-tubular bones (NTBs). METHODS: We retrospectively reviewed the medical records of patients with CB. Data collected included patients' gender and age, type, size and location of bone involved, and imaging findings regarding border, lobulation, calcification, trabeculation, cortical expansion and destruction, periosteal reaction, soft tissue component and fractures. Magnetic resonance imaging and/or multidetector computed tomography were used to determine the presence of any internal cystic space or secondary aneurysmal bone cyst that may have affected the radiological appearance of CB. RESULTS: All 31 lesions (18 tubular bones, 13 NTBs) exhibited geographic bone destruction and did not involve the adjacent joints. Univariate analysis showed that NTB lesions were found in older patients and were associated with thin trabeculation (p < 0.01) and well-defined margins (p < 0.05), whereas tubular bone lesions correlated with thick trabeculation and partially ill-defined margins. On multivariate analysis, age and type of bone involvement were significantly correlated. An increase in age by one year reduced the risk of having tubular bone involvement by about 27% when compared with NTBs (p = 0.011). Thin trabeculation was also significantly correlated with NTB lesions. CONCLUSION: Age was the most significant parameter, as increased age was found to reduce the risk of tubular bone involvement. Patients with NTB lesions were significantly older than those with tubular bone lesions. Based on imaging alone, thin trabeculation showed significant correlation with CB occurring in NTBs on both univariate and multivariate analyses.

Unrecognized vertebral fractures in adolescents and young adults with thalassemia syndromes.

Osteoporosis is a common problem in thalassemics. As the most affected bone is spinal vertebrae, theoretically, it should have the greatest risk of fracture. However, vertebral fracture (VF) in thalassemics was rarely reported. Screening for asymptomatic VF in thalassemics has not been reported. We, therefore, evaluated prevalence of VF in adolescents and young adults with thalassemia. A total of 150 patients with thalassemia, aged 10 years and older were enrolled. Lateral thoracolumbar spine radiography was evaluated. Twenty patients (13%) had VF and 6 of 20 (30%) had multiple VFs. The 2 most common sites of VF were lumbar 1 and thoracic 12 vertebrae. Comparing with the group without VF, thalassemics with VF were older, had more severe degree of thalassemia, history of splenectomy and previous non-VF, more iron chelation use, and longer duration of blood transfusion, but had lower pretransfused hematocrit. Multivariate analysis revealed 2 predictive factors for VF, having severe thalassemia and aged 20 years or older (odds ratio 5.7 and 5.0, respectively). In conclusion, unrecognized asymptomatic VF in thalassemics was not uncommon. Risk factors associated with VF included severe thalassemia and age 20 years or older. Screening for VF in the high-risk patient should be considered.

Emergency ultrasonography in patients with clinically suspected soft tissue infection of the legs.

INTRODUCTION: We aimed to retrospectively review the ultrasonography (US) findings of patients with clinically suspected soft tissue infection of the legs and to determine whether there is a correlation between US diagnosis and further clinical management. METHODS: We reviewed the US findings of consecutive patients with clinically suspected soft tissue infection of the legs who were referred for emergency US during a consecutive two-year period. The indications for US were recorded and the findings evaluated. The effect of the US findings on further clinical management (medication alone versus medication with surgical intervention [SI]) was reviewed. RESULTS: A total of 51 legs from 38 patients were enrolled in the study. The most common indication for US was to rule out necrotising fasciitis (35.3%). The most frequent US diagnosis was isolated cellulitis (21.6%). Both groups of patients (with and without abscess) were treated with medication with or without SI. There was no statistically significant correlation between the presence or absence of abscess and further clinical management (p = 0.216), between the size (length and thickness) of the abscess and the type of SI (p = 0.687 and 0.243, respectively) CONCLUSION: In our study, the most frequent US diagnosis was isolated cellulitis, and we found no significant correlation between US findings and clinical management (medication or SI). Our results should encourage sonologists to evaluate in detail patients with clinically suspected soft tissue infection of the legs and to provide information regarding each layer of tissue studied.

Dynamic contrasted MR imaging in differentiation of recurrent malignant soft tissue tumor from posttreatment changes.

OBJECTIVE: To investigate dynamic contrast enhanced magnetic resonance imaging (DCE-MRI) in term of differentiation recurrent malignant soft tissue tumor (MSTT) from post-treatment changes. MATERIAL AND METHOD: DCE-MRI was performed in consecutive patients in two-year periods to differentiate recurrent MSTT from post-treatment (surgery radiotherapy chemotherapy) changes. The steepest slope (SS) ratio between the artery and the lesion, sensitivity, and specificity were calculated. RESULTS: Thirty-five DCE-MRI studies were performed in 30 patients, which included 14 males and 16 females with an age range from 12 to 71 years (median 45.81 year). Thirteen were with recurrence and 22 were with post-treatment changes. The SS ratios were ranged from 0.66 to 29.15. The lesions with the SS ratio > 9.28 were all benign at follow up of at least two months, whereas those with SS ratio < 1.05 were all recurrent tumors proven by biopsy or surgery. Overlapping occurred when the SS ratios > 1.05 but < 9.28 in which the recurrence was 42.31%. The chance of having recurrence rather than post-treatment changes was approximately two andfive times in patients with the ratio of 5. 07 and 1.55, with the specificity of 54.55% and 90.91%, respectively CONCLUSION: The SS ratio between the artery and the lesion has limitations to differentiate recurrent MSTT from posttreatment changes. It is useful when the ratio is less than 1.05 (malignant) or more than 9.28 (benign). The chance of having recurrence rather than post-treatment changes was approximately two and five times in patients with the ratio of 5.07 and 1.55, respectively The less value the ratio is, the more possibility to be recurrent tumor.

Elevated vitamin D status in postmenopausal women on thiazolidinediones for type 2 diabetes.

Thiazolidenediones (TZD) have been reported to lead to non-vertebral bone loss in postmenopausal women with diabetes, but the true incidence of vertebral fractures has been under-detected because two-thirds of vertebral fractures are silent. TZD is also related to increased adiposity, with a consequently greater risk of vitamin D deficiency-both of which seem to aggravate the untoward effect of TZD on bone. The aim of this study is to determine whether TZD use is associated with prevalence of vertebral fractures and low vitamin D status in postmenopausal women with type 2 diabetes. A group of 102 postmenopausal women with type 2 diabetes, 52 TZD users for at least 12 months, and 50 non-TZD users were enrolled in the study. Any data regarding diabetes, age at menopause, co-morbidities, and drug use were recorded. Blood sampling and thoraco-lumbar radiography were performed. Bone mineral density (BMD) of L2-L4 and the femur were measured by dual-energy X-ray absorptiometry (DXA). The occurrence of vertebral fractures at one level or more in subjects on TZD was higher than those not on TZD, but did not reach statistical significance (19.2 vs. 14.0%, P = 0.5). Total hip BMD in subjects on TZD was significantly lower than those not on TZD (0.96 ± 0.15 vs. 1.02 ± 0.11; P < 0.05). Levels of 25(OH)D in TZD users were significantly higher (35.3 ± 1.5 vs. 25.9 ± 1.2 ng/dl; P < 0.001). The prevalence of vitamin D deficiency was 75.5% in subjects not on TZD compared to 34.6% in those on TZD (OR 6.4, 95% CI 2.6-15.6). Higher circulating 25(OH)D was observed in TZD users. TZD use was associated with lower total hip BMD but not with vertebral fracture.