Clinical rheumatology
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Clinical rheumatology · Jan 2010
Clinical characteristics and predictors of mortality in 67 patients with primary pyomyositis: a study from North India.
Primary pyomyositis is infection of the skeletal muscles in the absence of adjacent skin, soft tissue, and bone infection. This study was undertaken to look at the spectrum of clinical presentations, therapeutic interventions, and their outcomes and also to evaluate the association of various risk factors with mortality. This was a retrospective study in which the patients admitted with the diagnosis of primary pyomyositis from January 2000 to June 2007 were included. ⋯ On univariate analysis, there was a statistically significant association between higher SOFA score, lower Glasgow coma scale, higher pulse rate, lower blood pressure, raised blood urea, raised serum creatinine, higher serum glutamic pyruvate transaminase, raised total bilirubin at presentation, and development of sepsis during hospital stay with mortality. In our study, the patients were seen almost a decade later than those seen in other studies from the region. Evidence of organ dysfunction at presentation and sepsis was associated with increased mortality.
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Clinical rheumatology · Jan 2010
Case ReportsFlexion contractures in secondary adrenal insufficiency.
We report the case of a 55-year-old male with flexion contractures of the hips and the knees due to an isolated adrenocorticotropin (ACTH) deficiency, a rare cause of secondary adrenal insufficiency. The presenting symptoms and signs, the laboratory investigations and the treatment are described. ⋯ The aetiology of the flexion contractures in adrenal insufficiency is still unclear. The authors want to draw attention to adrenal insufficiency as the cause of unexplained flexion contractures.
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Clinical rheumatology · Dec 2009
Age, gender, obesity, and depression are associated with patient-related pain and function outcome after revision total hip arthroplasty.
To examine whether patient characteristics predict patient-reported pain and function 2- or 5-years after revision total hip arthroplasty (THA). In a prospective cohort of revision THA patients, we examined whether gender, age, body mass index (BMI), comorbidity (Deyo-Charlson index) and depression predicted moderate-severe hip pain, moderate-severe activity limitation (> or = 3 activities), dependence on walking aids and use of pain medications, using multivariable regression analysis. Significant predictors of moderate-severe pain at 2- and 5-years were [odds ratio (95% confidence interval)]: female gender, 1.3 (1.0, 1.6) and 1.5 (1.1, 1.9) and age 61-70, 0.7 (0.5, 1.0) and 0.7 (0.5, 1.0; reference (ref), < or = 60 years). ⋯ Similarly, female gender, older age (>70) and BMI of 30 or higher were each significantly associated with higher odds of moderate-severe activity limitation at both, 2- and 5-years. Depression was associated with higher risk at 2 years, 1.7 (1.1, 2.6) and higher Deyo-Charlson score with a higher risk of moderate-severe activity limitation at 5 years, 1.7 (1.1, 2.7). Obesity and depression, considered modifiable clinical factors, were important independent predictors of pain, functional limitation and use of pain medications, following revision THA.
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Clinical rheumatology · Oct 2009
ReviewChiropractic treatment for fibromyalgia: a systematic review.
Many patients use chiropractic as a treatment of fibromyalgia, and many chiropractors seem to be convinced that it is effective for that condition. The aim of the study was to conduct a systematic review of randomised clinical trials testing the effectiveness of chiropractic care for fibromyalgia. Six electronic literature searches were conducted. ⋯ Their methodological quality was poor. They generated no evidence to suggest that chiropractic care is effective for fibromyalgia. Currently, there is insufficient evidence to conclude that chiropractic is an effective treatment for fibromyalgia.
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Clinical rheumatology · Oct 2009
Case ReportsSyndrome of periodic fever, aphthous stomatitis, pharyngitis, and adenitis (PFAPA) in siblings.
PFAPA syndrome is characterized by episodes of periodic fever, aphthous stomatitis, pharyngitis, and cervical adenitis. PFAPA syndrome usually begins in children under 5 years old and normally has self-resolution. ⋯ In this paper, we report the cases of two different families with siblings with PFAPA syndrome: two sisters and two brothers. To our knowledge, this is the first report of siblings with PFAPA syndrome.