Rheumatology international
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Review Case Reports
An unusual case of undifferentiated connective tissue disease presenting as cardiac tamponade.
Cardiac tamponade as an initial manifestation of undifferentiated connective tissue diseases (UCTD) is extremely rare, with only one case reported in literature thus far. We describe here, a case of a middle-aged man who presented with symptoms of fatigue, exertional dyspnea and orthopnea. His physical exam was significant for anasarca, elevated JVP and pulsus paradoxus. ⋯ He was therefore diagnosed with UCTD, and successfully treated with colchicine after emergency pericardiocentesis. This case presents UCTD as a rare cause of cardiac tamponade and large pericardial effusions and suggests that colchicine can be used to treat UCTD-associated effusions. These patients once diagnosed, are at risk of developing known connective tissue diseases within 5 years of disease onset and should be followed up in clinic periodically.
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Review
Writing a narrative biomedical review: considerations for authors, peer reviewers, and editors.
Review articles comprehensively covering a specific topic are crucial for successful research and academic projects. Most editors consider review articles for special and regular issues of journals. ⋯ We performed a comprehensive search through MEDLINE, EMBASE, Scopus, and Web of Science using the following keywords: review of the literature, narrative review, title, abstract, authorship, ethics, peer review, research methods, medical writing, scientific writing, and writing standards. Opinions expressed in the review are also based on personal experience as authors, peer reviewers, and editors.
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Review Case Reports
Rare localizations of bone sarcoidosis: two case reports and review of the literature.
Sarcoidosis is a multisystem disease of unknown origin. Granulomatous bone involvement has an overall incidence of 1-13%. ⋯ Here we describe some interesting cases of chronic sarcoidosis with unusual bone localizations observed at our regional referral centre for sarcoidosis. We also review the literature to underline the complexity of the disease, the problem of differential diagnosis with respect to malignancies and the need for appropriate and effective therapy of this rare localization.
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Familial Mediterranean fever (FMF) is the most common autoinflammatory disease characterized by recurrent self-limited attacks of fever accompanied with peritonitis, pleuritis, or arthritis. FMF may coexist with various systemic inflammatory diseases including vasculitides, spondyloarthritis, multiple sclerosis, and inflammatory bowel disease. Among these coexistences, this review concentrates on vasculitic disorders, with the aim of increasing the awareness of FMF-vasculitis association. ⋯ Among the vasculitic disorders reported to be associated with FMF, Henoch-Schönlein purpura, and classical polyarteritis nodosa come the first, possibly followed up by protracted febrile myalgia. There is also an ongoing debate whether Behçet's disease (BD) more frequently seen in FMF than expected by chance alone. In this review, the associations of various vasculitic disorders with FMF and the possible pathogenic mechanisms underlying these associations, as well as the frequencies and clinical significances of FMF-related MEFV mutations in various vasculitides including BD, are discussed in the context of the available data.
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Joint hypermobility syndrome (JHS), also known as Ehlers-Danlos III, is an inherited disorder of connective tissue, characterised by an exceptional increase in the joint's mobility and the presence of musculoskeletal and other symptoms. It is a benign syndrome if compared with the other types of Ehlers-Danlos, but it can become disabling particularly because it is a significant source of pain and distress. ⋯ Chronic pain, associated psychopathological factors such as anxiety, depression and somatosensory amplification, and problems arising from a lack of recognition and knowledge of the syndrome, are frequent among those affected, having a negative impact on their quality of life. We emphasise the relevance of addressing JHS from a biopsychosocial approach.