Clinical rheumatology
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Clinical rheumatology · Mar 2013
Review Case ReportsScrotal involvement in an adult with Henoch-Schönlein purpura.
Henoch-Schönlein purpura is a systemic vasculitis of unknown etiology usually affecting the pediatric age group and characterized by the clinical triad of non-thrombocytopenic palpable purpura, abdominal pain, and arthritis. There also may be varying degrees of renal involvement. The findings of scrotal involvement are not as well recognized. We describe a case of acute scrotal swelling as part of a 37-year-old male's presentation of Henoch-Schönlein purpura, a presentation that has not been reported in this age group.
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Clinical rheumatology · Mar 2013
Review Case ReportsTakayasu's arteritis and posterior reversible encephalopathy syndrome: a case-based review.
Autoimmune vasculitides can have diverse neurological manifestations, including posterior reversible encephalopathy syndrome (PRES). Takayasu's arteritis (TA) is an uncommon vasculitis rarely associated with PRES. Common clinical features of TA include hypertension, audible arterial bruits, absence of peripheral pulses, claudication of the extremities, reduced blood pressure in one or both arms, and angiographic abnormalities. ⋯ We found ten additional cases of TA and PRES in the literature. All patients were females under the age of 40, had renovascular hypertension, and presented with headaches and seizures. Current literature relevant to this rare association is presented and discussed.
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Clinical rheumatology · Feb 2013
Pain and psychological health status in chronic pain patients with migration background--the Zurich study.
The objective of this paper is to investigate whether there were differences in pain and psychological health status in chronic pain patients with and without migration background before and after an 8-week interdisciplinary outpatient pain programme (IOPP). One hundred eighteen consecutively assessed patients were included. Pain and psychological health were recorded prior to and after the intervention, and at the 3-, 6- and 12-month follow-up. ⋯ The results show differences in outcome for chronic pain patients with and without migration background. High pain intensity, high levels of depression, anxiety and catastrophizing at baseline appear to be major barriers for improvement in a sample of migrant patients when participating in an IOPP. Treatments may have to be tailored to the specific needs of this patient group to better address their poor psychological health status and to improve the course of the pain disorder.
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Clinical rheumatology · Jan 2013
Does Behcet's disease associate with neuropathic pain syndrome and impaired well-being?
Previously peripheral neuropathy signs have been reported in inflammatory chronic diseases but the presence of neuropathic pain syndrome (NPS) in Behcet's disease (BD) is unclear. The aim of this study was to investigate the association of BD with NPS and impaired quality of life and sleep quality. A total of 111 patients diagnosed as BD and 52 healthy controls were included. ⋯ We observed a positive correlation between LANSS and VAS (rest and activity) scores (r = 0.44, r = 0.42 respectively). The NPS seems to be associated with BD which should be taken into consideration in patients with neuropathic signs. The quality of life (QoL) and quality of sleep of the patients with BD were found to be impaired and this may be due to the presence of NPS.
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Clinical rheumatology · Jan 2013
Review Case ReportsProgressive disseminated histoplasmosis in systemic lupus erythematosus-an unusual presentation of acute tenosynovitis and a literature review.
Progressive disseminated histoplasmosis is a disease where Histoplasma capsulatum affects multiple organs due to the inability of host cellular immunity to control the infection. Progressive disseminated histoplasmosis mainly involves the bone marrow, liver, and lungs. ⋯ This report highlights the point that H. capsulatum may present as focal lesions and a high level of suspicion is needed to make the diagnosis, especially in SLE patients. We specifically reviewed reported cases of progressive disseminated histoplasmosis in SLE patients, and a review of the literature is presented.