Clinical Medicine Insights. Arthritis and Musculoskeletal Disorders最新文献

Purpose: To assess safety and search predictive factors of efficacy of a single intra-articular injection of a mannitol-modified hyaluronic acid (HA) viscosupplement, in patients having trapeziometacarpal (TMC) osteoarthritis (OA).

Methods: Patients with symptomatic TMC OA, not adequately relieved by analgesic therapy and/or by the use of a thumb splint, were included in a 3-month prospective multicentre open-label trial. All underwent plain radiographs with the Kapandji incidences allowing the Dell radiological grade assessment (1-4). Primary end point was the variation between injection (D0) and day 90 (D90) of the thumb pain (11-point Likert scale). Treatment consisted in a single injection of 0.6 to 1 mL of a viscosupplement made of a cross-linked HA combined with mannitol. All injections were performed under imaging guidance. Predictive factors of pain decrease were studied in univariate and multivariate analysis.

Results: A total of 122 patients (76% women, mean age 60, mean disease duration 36 months) were included and 120 (98%) were assessed at 3 months. The TMC OA was of Dell's grade 1, 2, 3, and 4 in 23%, 36.8%, 36.8%, and 3.5% of cases, respectively. At D0, the average (SD) pain level was 6.5 ± 1.6 without significant difference between Dell groups (P = .21). At day 90, pain decreased from 6.5 ± 1.6 to 3.9 ± 2.5 (difference -2.7 ± 2.5; -42%; P < .0001) without significant difference between Dell grade (P = .055), despite a seemingly smaller number of responders in stage 2 patients. The average analgesic consumption decreased in more than 1 out of 2 patients. In multivariate analysis, no predictor of response was identified. There was no safety issue. All adverse events (11%) were transient increase in pain during or following HA administration and resolved without sequel within 1 to 7 days.

Conclusions: This study suggests that a single course of HANOX-M-XL injection is effective in relieving pain in patients with TMC OA, without safety concern. Patients with advanced stage of OA benefit the treatment as much as those with mild or moderate OA.

Background: Preliminary research suggests that bone marrow concentrate (BMC), which contains mesenchymal stem cells and platelets, is a promising treatment for knee osteoarthritis. The aim of this study was to build on this preliminary research by reporting the short-term progress of 15 patients (20 knees) with knee osteoarthritis through 4 BMC treatments.

Methods: Patients underwent four sequential BMC treatments with mean injection times of 13.80 days after the first treatment, 21.40 days after the second treatment, and 33.50 days after the third treatment. The last follow-up was conducted a mean 86 days after the first treatment. Baseline and posttreatment outcomes of resting pain, active pain, lower functionality scale, and overall improvement percentage were compared after each treatment.

Results: Patients experienced statistically significant improvements in active pain and functionality score after the first treatment. Additionally, patients experienced a mean decrease in resting pain after the first treatment, yet outcomes were not statistically significant until after the second treatment. On average, patients experienced an 84.31% decrease in resting pain, a 61.95% decrease in active pain, and a 55.68% increase in functionality score at the final follow-up. Patients also reported a mean 67% total overall improvement at study conclusion. Outcomes at the final follow-up after the fourth treatment were statistically significant compared to outcomes at baseline, after first treatment, after second treatment, and after third treatment.

Conclusions: These results are promising, and additional research with a larger sample size and longer follow-up is needed to further examine the treatment effectiveness of multiple BMC injections for knee osteoarthritis.

The consecutive reports and stored images of ultrasound examinations for 100 symptomatic ankles of 74 patients with rheumatoid arthritis (RA) were reviewed for the presence or absence of retrocalcaneal bursitis (RCB) and Achilles tendon enthesitis (ATE). The ankles were classified into 4 categories based on the presence or absence of RCB or ATE. The number of RCB(-)/ATE(-), RCB(+)/ATE(-), RCB(+)/ATE(+), and RCB(-)/ATE(+) ankles was 62, 16, 12, and 10, respectively. When classifying patients into early RA and established RA, the percentage of RCB(-)/ATE(+) ankles with early RA was significantly lower than that with established RA (P = .00595). The disease duration was significantly longer in the RCB(-)/ATE(+) ankles than in the RCB(+)/ATE(-) ankles (median [interquartile range]: 15.29 [8.69] months vs 3.6 [3.06] months, P = .0247). It was speculated that RCB precedes or accompanies ATE in the early phase of RA, which suggests that entheseal inflammation in RA arises from synovial tissues.

Background and objective: To perform an integrated analysis of 2 randomized controlled trials (RCTs) to assess the efficacy and safety of a single intra-articular injection of Gel-200 compared with phosphate buffered saline (PBS) for treatment of osteoarthritis of the knee.

Methods: Data from the intention-to-treat (ITT) populations of both RCTs were pooled for this integrated analysis. Mean changes from baseline in Western Ontario and McMaster Universities Arthritis Index (WOMAC) pain subscores were assessed using a longitudinal model; treatment differences were compared between intra-articular Gel-200 and PBS injections. Analyses included secondary outcome measures repeated at individual time points. The safety populations of both RCTs were pooled for an integrated safety analysis to compare adverse events (AEs).

Results: The pooled ITT population included 1184 subjects (649 Gel-200; 535 PBS); demographic characteristics were similar between treatment groups. Mean improvements in pain subscores from baseline to week 12 were -24.7 mm in Gel-200 and -21.8 mm in PBS groups, a statistically significant treatment group difference of -2.9 mm (P = .047). From weeks 3 to 26, mean improvements from baseline in pain subscores were -23.8 mm with Gel-200 and -20.8 mm with PBS; this treatment group difference of -3.0 mm was statistically significant (P = .017). The rate of AEs was similar between Gel-200 and PBS treatment groups.

Conclusion: This integrated analysis demonstrated the efficacy of a single intra-articular injection of Gel-200 compared with PBS for treatment of osteoarthritis of the knee over 26 weeks without major safety concerns.

Trial registration: NCT00449696 and NCT00450112.

Introduction: Dermal fillers are used for multiple cosmetic indications including gluteal and thigh augmentation. Complications, although infrequent, are increasing due to the dramatic growth of dermal filler use. Our aim was to describe how the complication of infected silicone granulomas can present following lower limb augmentation.

Methods: Two cases presented with pain, oedema, and erythema at the site of previous silicone filler injection, following a considerable delay after the last injection (range 4-7 years). We collected data on their biochemistry, haematology, histology, microbiology, and imaging at the time of presentation.

Results: Complications included prolonged cellulitis with recurrent abscesses at sites of previous silicone dermal filler injection. Histology revealed infiltration of chronic inflammatory cells suggestive of silicone granuloma in both cases. Patients were reluctant to divulge use of cosmetic fillers or failed to recognise their significance given the time delay making diagnosis difficult. Delayed or recurring infections can suggest the presence of atypical organisms and we present the first reported case of silicone granuloma infection with Propionibacterium acnes.

Conclusions: Microorganisms can induce immune-mediated hypersensitivity and are believed to be the trigger for delayed activation of a quiescent foreign body to a granulomatous reaction. The substantial time delay between injection and reaction must be recognised and may be attributable to atypical microorganisms or biofilm formation. Previous antibiotic use can affect expedient microbiological diagnosis and treatment requires close collaboration with microbiologists. It is important that clinicians are aware of these important complications which are becoming more common with increased use of filler augmentation.

Background: Cervical spine involvement in patients with rheumatoid arthritis (RA) can cause pain and disability, with a variety of neurologic signs and symptoms.

Objectives: To investigate the relationship between structural cervical spine involvement in patients with RA with the age at disease onset and the degree of radiologic severity of RA measured by Larsen scoring.

Patients and methods: This cross-sectional study included 50 adult patients with RA. Patients who complained or not complained from symptoms of cervical spine involvement in RA were included; we did X-ray of the cervical spine, hands, and feet; Larsen scoring method; disease activity score (DAS28); and Neck Disability Index.

Results: The results revealed that patients with cervical involvement tend to be younger at their disease onset than those with no cervical involvement, as detected by cervical X-ray. The relation was significant P < .05 regarding all cervical involvements except for basilar invagination. Disease radiological severity (measured by Larsen score) significantly increases the risk for subaxial subluxation, P = .040. All other cervical complications of RA tend to have nonsignificant relation with disease severity. Using univariate binary regression analysis for risk factors for cervical involvement showed that the only probable risk factor for cervical involvement (detected by X-ray) in patients with RA is age at disease onset.

Conclusions: The early age at disease onset tends to affect cervical spine involvement in patients with RA more than the disease radiological severity.

Objective: This study was conducted to evaluate the efficacy and tolerability of the oral intake of promerim in the elimination of acute pain and discomfort associated with knee osteoarthritis (OA).

Methods: Single-center, 1-month, prospective, observational clinical trial. A total of 92 patients not older than 70 years were included. Patients were offered to use 720-mg promerim for the first 15 days after admission after breakfast and then 360 mg for the second 15 days. All patients were analyzed with the visual analog scale (VAS) for pain, which ranges from 0 to 10, and the Western Ontario and McMaster Universities Osteoarthritis Index (WOMAC) score before the start of treatment and 1 month after the start. Statistical analysis was performed by SPSS 15.0 software. An α level of P < .05 was assumed to be statistically significant.

Results: This study comprised 92 patients (69 women and 23 men) with a mean age of 51.5 (range: 40-69) years. Before treatment, the mean VAS score was 5.6 ± 1.1, and after treatment, the mean VAS score was 2.6 ± 1.7. Treatment with promerim consistently showed a significant decrease in the VAS score (P < .001). The mean WOMAC score of the patients was 46.4 ± 8.2 before treatment. After treatment, the mean WOMAC score was 72.1 ± 14.4. Treatment with promerim consistently showed a significant increase in the WOMAC score (P < .001).

Conclusions: The results of this single-center, open-label clinical study demonstrate that promerim is a viable natural treatment option for treating knee OA. We recommend that 720-mg promerim taken once daily for the first 15 days after admission and 360 mg taken once daily for the next 15 days significantly and rapidly reduced composite pain and stiffness in the knee OA within 1 month.

Studies have shown that Raman spectroscopic analysis of fingernail clippings can help differentiate between post-menopausal women who have and who have not suffered a fracture. However, all studies to date have been retrospective in nature, comparing the proteins in nails sourced from women, post-fracture. The objective of this study was to investigate the potential of a prospective test for hip fracture based on spectroscopic analysis of nail tissue. Archived toenail samples from post-menopausal women aged 50 to 63 years in the Nurses' Health Study were obtained and analysed by Raman spectroscopy. Nails were matched case-controls sourced from 161 women; 82 who underwent a hip fracture up to 20 years after nail collection and 81 age-matched controls. A number of clinical risk factors (CRFs) from the Fracture Risk Assessment (FRAX) tool had been assessed at toenail collection. Using 80% of the spectra, models were developed for increasing time periods between nail collection and fracture. Scores were calculated from these models for the other 20% of the sample and the ability of the score to predict hip fracture was tested in model with and without the CRFs by comparing the odds ratios (ORs) per 1 SD increase in standardised predictive values. The Raman score successfully distinguished between hip fracture cases and controls. With only the score as a predictor, a statistically significant OR of 2.2 (95% confidence interval [CI]: 1.5-3.1) was found for hip fracture for up to 20 years after collection. The OR increased to 3.8 (2.6-5.4) when the CRFs were added to the model. For fractures limited to 13 years after collection, the OR was 6.3 (3.0-13.1) for the score alone. The test based on Raman spectroscopy has potential for identifying individuals who may suffer hip fractures several years in advance. Higher powered studies are required to evaluate the predictive capability of this test.

Introduction: There has been an influx of research studies aimed at identifying all factors that contribute to minimizing cost and maximizing postoperative care after total knee arthroplasty (TKA). Length of stay (LOS) has been defined as a significant factor that contributes to increased burden. We aimed at looking whether day of surgery has any significant effect on the LOS and postoperative complications following total knee arthroplasty (TKA).

Materials and methods: Retrospective cohort study done at the Aga Khan University Hospital, Pakistan, from January 2007 to December 2015. A total of 611 patients who underwent a unilateral or bilateral total knee arthroplasty (TKA) were included in study: 269 (44.0%) patients underwent unilateral TKA and 342 (56.0%) underwent a bilateral TKA.

Results: Kruskal-Wallis test and post hoc pairwise comparisons showed that unilateral TKAs performed on Tuesday, Saturday, and Sunday resulted in a lower median LOS (P < .05). No significant association was seen in bilateral TKA group. Day of surgery was not associated with postoperative complications.

Conclusions: Unilateral TKAs performed earlier during the week and later on the weekend are associated with a significantly lower LOS. It is highly probable that patch ancillary services during the latter part of the week and a higher workload for the staff are important reasons for this phenomenon.

Background: Psoriasis is a complex autoimmune disease caused by the interaction of genetic and environmental factors. PTPN22 gene polymorphism has been reported to affect psoriasis susceptibility; however, no data are available for Middle Eastern populations.

Objective: The aim of this study was to investigate the association of PTPN22 (1858C/T) R620W polymorphism with psoriasis in a Saudi cohort.

Methods: Saudi subjects (n = 306) including patients with psoriasis (n = 106) and matched controls (n = 200) were studied for PTPN22 variants using tetra-primer amplification refractory mutation system-polymerase chain reaction method. The frequencies of alleles and genotypes of PTPN22 (1858C/T) polymorphism were compared between patients and controls.

Results: The frequency of CT genotype of PTPN22 (1858C/T) polymorphism was significantly higher, whereas that of CC genotype was lower in patients with psoriasis than in controls (P < .001, relative risk [RR] = 7.151). The homozygous genotype TT was absent in both the patients and healthy controls. The frequency of allele T encoding tryptophan (W) was significantly increased (P < .001, RR = 5.76), whereas that of allele C encoding arginine (R) decreased in psoriasis cases as compared with controls (P < .001, RR = 0.173) indicating that individuals carrying allele T are more susceptible to psoriasis than noncarriers.

Conclusions: PTPN22 (1858C/T) polymorphism is positively associated with susceptibility of psoriasis in Saudis and can be developed as biomarker for evaluating psoriasis risk. However, further studies on PTPN22 polymorphism in larger samples from different geographical areas and ethnicity are warranted.