Seminars in arthritis and rheumatism
-
Semin. Arthritis Rheum. · Apr 2013
ReviewOphthalmologic manifestations of systemic necrotizing vasculitides at diagnosis: a retrospective study of 1286 patients and review of the literature.
To determine the frequencies and types of ophthalmologic manifestations in patients with systemic necrotizing vasculitides (SNV), including polyarteritis nodosa (PAN) and ANCA-associated vasculitides (granulomatosis with polyangiitis (Wegener's, GPA), microscopic polyangiitis (MPA), and eosinophilic granulomatosis with polyangiitis (EGPA); Churg-Strauss syndrome (CSS)) and review the literature on eye involvement in these diseases. ⋯ Eye manifestations were more common in GPA than MPA, PAN and EGPA, but can be sight-threatening in any SNV. Given the heterogeneity of ophthalmologic involvement in SNV, close collaboration between the ophthalmologists and internists is critical.
-
Semin. Arthritis Rheum. · Apr 2013
ReviewIntra-articular corticosteroid injection in osteoarthritis of the knee and hip: factors predicting pain relief--a systematic review.
Variations in the degree of pain relief reported by patients with osteoarthritis following intra-articular corticosteroid injections are well recognized but the reasons for this are not widely understood and factors which might predict variations in response have not been subjected to systematic review. We set out to review systematically the literature relating to predictors of pain reduction following intra-articular corticosteroid injections in patients with knee and hip osteoarthritis. ⋯ Previous research has not identified reliable predictors of response to IA corticosteroid injections, a widely practised intervention in knee and hip OA. Further studies are required if this question is to be answered.
-
Semin. Arthritis Rheum. · Feb 2013
ReviewTherapeutic inhibition of tyrosine kinases in systemic sclerosis: a review of published experience on the first 108 patients treated with imatinib.
Experimental and clinical evidence suggest a therapeutic role for the tyrosine kinase inhibitor imatinib in fibrosing conditions. We evaluated published data on the safety and efficacy of imatinib for patients with systemic sclerosis (SSc), a severe autoimmune disease with significant morbidity and mortality. ⋯ The limited available experience suggests that imatinib could be considered as an individualized treatment approach in severe SSc and underscores the need to identify markers for selecting particular patients, who will safely respond to therapeutic inhibition of tyrosine kinases.
-
Semin. Arthritis Rheum. · Feb 2013
ReviewBarriers to participant retention in knee osteoarthritis clinical trials: a systematic review.
We investigated the reasons and rates of attrition in knee osteoarthritis trials through a systematic review of randomized, placebo-controlled, clinical trials. ⋯ Our findings not only support the importance of the intention-to-treat analysis, but also suggest the possibility of controlling the attrition at the study level.
-
Semin. Arthritis Rheum. · Dec 2012
ReviewParoxysmal supraventricular tachycardia and Wolff-Parkinson-White syndrome in ankylosing spondylitis: a large cohort observation study and literature review.
To investigate the associations of paroxysmal supraventricular tachycardia (PSVT) and Wolff-Parkinson-White (WPW) syndrome with ankylosing spondylitis (AS). ⋯ Ankylosing spondylitis patients had a high probability of developing PSVT and WPW syndrome. Detailed ECG and electrophysiological examinations are required for early detection of PSVT and WPW syndrome for prompt resolution of potentially life-threatening complications in all AS patients, especially those presenting with the symptoms of palpitation, dizziness, dyspnea, or syncope.