Bilateral transient osteoporosis of the talus in pregnancy.

We present the case of bilateral transient osteoporosis of the talus in pregnancy, which is rarely reported in the medical literature, confirmed by pre- and postpartum MRI.A gravid 33-year-old white female G4P2A1 with bilateral transient osteoporosis of the talus confirmed by magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) is presented. She was conservatively managed and had clinical resolution several weeks postpartum. A follow-up MRI confirmed improvement in bilateral talus consistent with the natural course of transient osteoporosis.

Prevalence of scleroderma spectrum disorders in the general population of South Carolina.

The prevalence of scleroderma spectrum disorders (including systemic sclerosis [SSc] meeting the American Rheumatism Association criteria and the less typical disorders meeting only our study criteria) was determined in a random sample of 6,998 subjects from the general population of South Carolina. The results suggest that the prevalence of these disorders may range from 67 to 265 per 100,000, which is 4.9 to 19.2 times higher than previously reported for definite SSc. The ratio of nondefinite cases to definite cases of SSc (those meeting American Rheumatism Association criteria) was 2.5. Most of the nondefinite cases were unrecognized prior to our study, which suggests the need for improved early diagnosis of scleroderma spectrum disorders. Brief histories of the 7 patients with scleroderma spectrum disorders whose cases formed the basis for our calculation of prevalence rates are included in this report.

Hematoxylin-stained bodies and tissue LE cells in a skeletal muscle biopsy.

Hematoxylin-stained bodies and tissue "LE cells" have been identified for the first time in a skeletal muscle biopsy from a 46-year-old white female with clinical and laboratory evidence of systemic lupus erythematosus. The specificity and limited usefulness of hematoxylin bodies are discussed.