Rheumatology international
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Patients suffering from fibromyalgia (FM) had widespread musculoskeletal pain and stiffness, fatigue, sleep disorders, cognitive impairment and other symptoms, which seriously affects their quality of life (QoL), making it difficult to perform normal activities. Moreover, FM has been associated with a higher prevalence of overweight and obesity than in the general population. Weight reduction has been beneficial in both FM and other rheumatic patients. ⋯ BMI, fM and lM correlated differently with the specific SF-36 scores. BMI had a high negative correlation with emotional role, fM with bodily pain and lM almost with all scores but specially with emotional role, vitality and physical role. The outcome of this study reveals some interesting relationships, which need to be further investigated to improve the management of FM patients.
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To evaluate the Mean Platelet Volume (MPV) levels in children diagnosed with familial Mediterranean fever (FMF), during attack and attack-free periods. The records of a total of 117 children with FMF, diagnosed using the Tel-Hashomer criteria, have been scanned. The study consisted of 53 patients during an attack (group 1), 64 patients in attack-free period (group 2), and 57 healthy controls (group 3). ⋯ No correlation was found between the Colchicine treatment period and MPV (r = -0.005). The MPV values in the complete group of FMF diagnosed children have been found to be much higher compared to those in healthy children. As a consequence, we consider the MPV value as a useful marker that demonstrates the risk of early stage atherosclerosis in children with FMF.
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Case Reports
Primary localized cutaneous amyloidosis intermingled with papulopustular lesions in a patient with Behçet's disease.
Primary localized cutaneous amyloidosis (PLCA) sometimes shows overlapping with collagen vascular diseases; however, association with Behçet's disease (BD) is rare. We herein report a case of PLCA developing intermingled with papulopustular lesions associated with BD. A 57-year-old woman visited our hospital, complaining of recalcitrant multiple oral aphthae. ⋯ A biopsy specimen from the pustular lesion on the back showed neutrophilic abscess in the epidermis with a number of perivascular inflammatory cells in the upper dermis. Congo-red and Dylon stain revealed amyloid deposition in the papillary dermis. Although association of systemic amyloidosis with BD is occasionally found in the literature, co-occurrence of cutaneous amyloidosis and papulopustular lesions of BD is extremely rare.
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The Bath Ankylosing Spondylitis Disease Activity Index (BASDAI) and the Bath Ankylosing Spondylitis Functional Index (BASFI) are widely used instruments in assessment of patients suffering from ankylosing spondylitis (AS). The Patient Acceptable Symptom State (PASS) is regarded as a target for patients' well-being. The aim of this study was to translate and adapt BASDAI, BASFI and PASS into the Iranian official language, Farsi, and evaluate their reliability and validity. ⋯ A significant correlation was also found between BASFI and occiput-to-wall distance, mentum-to-sternum distance, chest expansion, finger-to-floor distance, number of swollen joints, number of enthesites, nocturnal back pain, total back pain, BAS-G, BASDAI and BASMI. Patients who answered "no" to PASS (found their condition unsatisfactory) reported significantly increased pain scores, patient global disease activity scores, BAS-G, BASDAI and BASFI scores. The results showed that the Iranian versions of BASDAI, BASFI and PASS are adequately reliable and valid in patients with AS.
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The Australian/Canadian Osteoarthritis Hand Index (AUSCAN) is a patient self-reported 15-item questionnaire measuring the severity of hand osteoarthritis symptoms in the respect of pain, stiffness, and function. In this study, we developed a Korean version of the AUSCAN Index (K-AUSCAN) and confirmed its reliability, validity, and responsiveness. The AUSCAN Index was translated into Korean by 3 translators and translated back into English by 3 different translators. ⋯ The pain and function of K-AUSCAN correlated substantially with each other and moderately with stiffness subscale. The average SRM for K-AUSCAN pain, stiffness, and function was -0.92, -0.48, and -0.84, respectively. The Korean version of the AUSCAN Index is a valid, reliable, and responsive tool for the assessment of hand osteoarthritis symptoms.