Correlation between clinical disease activity and sacroiliac magnetic resonance imaging detection in axial spondyloarthropathy.

Objectives: The study aimed to evaluate the correlation between the clinical disease activity of axial spondyloarthropathy (axSpA) and magnetic resonance imaging findings of the sacroiliac joint. Patients and methods: Thirty-two patients (21 males, 11 females; mean age: 39.3±9.2 years; range, 18 to 55 years) who were diagnosed with axSpA according to the Assessment in Spondyloarthritis International Society classification criteria between November 2015 and August 2017 were included in this cross-sectional study. Visual Analog Scale (VAS), Bath Ankylosing Spondylitis Disease Activity Index (BASDAI), Ankylosing Spondylitis Disease Activity Score (ASDAS)-erythrocyte sedimentation rate (ESR), and ASDAS-C-reactive protein (CRP) were used as the indicators of clinical activity. Magnetic resonance imaging of the sacroiliac joint was performed and the Spondyloarthritis Research Consortium of Canada (SPARCC) score was evaluated by a radiologist who was blinded to the clinical and laboratory parameters of the patients. Results: The mean duration of symptom onset was 9.3±7.7 years, and the mean duration of diagnosis was 3.6±2.8 years. Human leukocyte antigen (HLA)-B27 was positive in 16 (50%) patients. There was no correlation between the SPARCC score and VAS, BASDAI, MASES, BASFI, ASDAS-CRP, ASDAS-ESR, ESR, and CRP values (p>0.05). In the HLA-B27 subgroup analyses, a statistically significant correlation was found between HLA-B27-negative patients and SPARCC score (r=0.639, p=0.008). Conclusion: No relationship was found between other clinical disease parameters and sacroiliac joint imaging findings, except for the relationship between the SPARCC and BASDAI in HLA-B27- negative patients with axSpA.

Comparison of the efficacy of dry needling and trigger point injections with exercise in temporomandibular myofascial pain treatment.

OBJECTIVES: We aimed to compare the efficacy of dry needling, trigger point injection, and protection methods through physical exercise on clinical symptoms and the pain threshold in patients with temporomandibular myofascial pain. PATIENTS AND METHODS: Between March 2013 and September 2013, in a random consecutive manner, a total of 63 consecutive patients (10 males, 53 females; median age 39.4±14.9 years; range, 18 to 65 years) were randomly divided into three groups: Group 1 (only exercise and protection training), Group 2 (dry needling + exercise + protection training), and Group 3 (trigger point injection + exercise + protection training). Dry needling or trigger point injection was performed for three times to the patients in Group 2 and Group 3 on a weekly basis. All patients were followed on Day 10 and at one month. RESULTS: A statistically significant improvement in the assessment and response variables was found for all groups, particularly for pain and functional limitation status (p<0.001). All groups were similar in terms of the improvement degree (p<0.001). Although not statistically significant, the highest improvement in the facial pain was seen in Group 3 on Day 10 (p=0.235); however, on Day 30, no significant difference was observed. CONCLUSION: Our study results showed that improvement in the subjective and objective symptoms in all treatment groups. Particularly, only exercise therapy was found to be beneficial as invasive methods. We suggest that all these methods should be applied together to achieve long-term efficacy.

The effect of pregabalin treatment on balance and gait in patients with chronic low back pain: a retrospective observational study.

Background: Low back pain is the most common musculoskeletal problem, and is a major cause of loss of workforce. Chronic low back pain associated with radiculopathy often includes nociceptive and neuropathic components. While non-steroidal anti-inflammatory drugs are the first choice for the nociceptive component, pregabalin is preferred as the neuropathic component. Materials and methods: A retrospective analysis was conducted of 48 patients (26 women, 22 men) who had chronic low back pain associated with radiculopathy. A follow-up chart was used to collect data from February 2017 to November 2017. The patients characteristics (age, gender, initial daily dose of pregabalin), neuropathic pain (DN4 scale; Douleur Neuropathique, 4 questions), and balance and gait (Tinetti Balance and Gait Test) were assessed. Results: The DN4 scores in the fourth (p < .001) and 12th (p < .001) weeks were significantly lower in patients. The Tinetti total test scores (23.2 ± 3.9) in the first (p > .001) week were significantly lower. There was no significant difference between the Tinetti test scores (balance, gait, and total scores) at baseline and in the 12th week (p > .001). Conclusion: Pregabalin is effective on neuropathic pain and may have adverse effects on balance at initial doses and dose increments. Tolerance develops to these effects at maintenance doses.

The relation between osteoporosis and vitamin D levels and disease activity in ankylosing spondylitis.

In this study, the relation between osteoporosis and vitamin D and the disease activity in patients with ankylosing spondylitis (AS) was investigated. A hundred patients with AS and 58 healthy individuals were included in the study. In addition to the routine blood and urine tests, serum 25-(OH)D3, parathormone (PTH), C-reactive protein (CRP), erythrocyte sedimentation rate (ESR), total calcium, ionized calcium, and phosphorous levels of all participants were also measured. Bone mineral density (BMD) measurements were performed at the anterior-posterior and lateral lumbar and femur regions. Anterior-posterior and lateral thoracic and lumbosacral radiography was performed on all participants. The disease activity was evaluated by Bath Ankylosing Spondylitis Disease Activity Index (BASDAI), functional status by Bath Ankylosing Spondylitis Functional Index (BASFI), and mobility by Bath Ankylosing Spondylitis Metrology Index (BASMI). In the patient group, BMD values obtained from the lateral lumbar and femur regions and serum vitamin D levels were lower than the control group. A negative relation was determined between the lateral lumbar BMD values and ESR, CRP, and BASDAI scores of patients with AS. The ESR, CRP levels, and BASMI scores of the AS patients with osteoporosis were significantly higher, when compared to patients without osteoporosis. The negative correlation between serum 25-(OH)D3 level and ESR, CRP levels did not reach a statistically significant level in patients with AS; the positive correlation between PTH levels and ESR, and the negative correlation between CRP and BASDAI also did not reach a statistically significant level. Vitamin D deficiency in AS may indirectly lead to osteoporosis by causing an increase in the inflammatory activity. The present authors believe that it would be beneficial to monitorize vitamin D levels together with BMD measurements in order to determine the patients under osteoporosis risk.