Seminars in arthritis and rheumatism
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Semin. Arthritis Rheum. · Jun 2011
Review Meta AnalysisInjection of botulinum toxin for treatment of chronic lateral epicondylitis: systematic review and meta-analysis.
Lateral epicondylitis can be chronic and difficult to manage with conservative measures such as physical therapy and corticosteroid injection. We attempted to determine the efficacy of botulinum toxin for the treatment of chronic lateral epicondylitis. ⋯ Present literature provides support for use of botulinum toxin A injections into the forearm extensor muscles (60 units) for treatment of chronic treatment-resistant lateral epicondylitis. It is minimally invasive and can be performed in an outpatient setting.
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Semin. Arthritis Rheum. · Aug 2010
ReviewBronchoalveolar lavage fluid in scleroderma interstitial lung disease: technical aspects and clinical correlations: review of the literature.
Bronchoalveolar lavage (BAL) has been used for clinical and research purposes in scleroderma interstitial lung disease (SSc-ILD). However, inconsistencies regarding technical aspects of BAL are obstacles in the reproducibility and interpretation of BAL results. This review summarizes clinical correlations and methodological issues of using BAL in the assessment of patients with SSc-ILD. In addition, we review the investigational use of BAL in SSc-ILD. ⋯ Further studies using standardized BAL protocols are required to establish the role of BAL fluid in the clinical evaluation of SSc-ILD. When performed for research purposes, BAL has provided valuable insight into the pathogenesis of SSc-ILD.
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Semin. Arthritis Rheum. · Aug 2010
ReviewIs remitting seronegative symmetrical synovitis with pitting edema (RS3PE) a subset of rheumatoid arthritis?
To contrast and compare the spectrum of remitting seronegative symmetrical synovitis with pitting edema (RS3PE) with rheumatoid arthritis (RA) using an illustrative case. ⋯ Based on the clinical, laboratory, suspected infectious etiology, genetic differences, and types of associated malignancies, RS3PE appears to be a distinct entity rather than a subset of RA.
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Semin. Arthritis Rheum. · Jun 2010
ReviewSleep as a marker in the effective management of chronic osteoarthritis pain with opioid analgesics.
Sleep disturbances frequently accompany chronic pain from osteoarthritis (OA), and their effective management may reflect successful treatment of chronic pain. The objective of this article is to provide a rationale for using improvement in sleep as a marker for effective management of chronic OA pain with opioid analgesics. For this purpose, available evidence evaluating the relationship between successful management of chronic pain with opioids and improvements in sleep in patients with OA is reviewed. ⋯ Current evidence suggests that various long-acting opioid analgesics simultaneously achieve pain control and improve sleep. However, the complex interaction between reduced pain and improved sleep requires further study.
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Semin. Arthritis Rheum. · Apr 2010
ReviewThe risk of infections with biologic therapies for rheumatoid arthritis.
To assess the risk of serious and nonserious bacterial and viral infections associated with the use of biologic therapy (abatacept, adalimumab, anakinra, etanercept, infliximab, and rituximab) in patients with rheumatoid arthritis (RA). ⋯ All marketed TNF inhibitors for compared to control RA appear to increase the risk of serious and nonserious infections compared with DMARDs. Although suggestive, data for abatacept and rituximab are less definitive and longer periods of patient exposure to these agents are needed before an assessment of their risks can be made.