Spectrum of musculoskeletal disorders in Nigerians with types 2 diabetes mellitus: prevalence and predictors.

Musculoskeletal (MSK) conditions are more frequently found among patients with diabetes mellitus (DM) than in the non-diabetics. Despite several reports outside Africa, they have been under-studied among Africans. This study aimed to assess the overall prevalence and predictors of MSK conditions in Nigerian with types 2 diabetes mellitus (T2DM). A total of 268 adult with T2DM and 268 non-diabetic controls were recruited. All study subjects had their socio-demographics and clinical parameters obtained using interviewer-administered questionnaire. Musculoskeletal conditions among study subjects were classified using validated criteria and case definitions. Musculoskeletal disorders (MSKD) were significantly more frequent amongst subjects with DM (56% vs 22%, OR=4.5 p=0.001). Osteoarthritis (9.3% vs 4.1%, p=0.016), lumbosacral spondylosis (5.6% vs 2.2%, p=0.045), limited joint mobility (13.8% vs 5.6%, p-0.001), adhesive capsulitis (4.5% vs 1.5%, p-0.042) and rotator cuff tendinitis (3.7% vs 0.4%, p=0.006) were more frequent in DM subjects than in controls. Logistic regression showed that age (OR=2.1, CI=1.5-2.6) and waist circumference (OR=3.0, CI=2.6- 3.4) are independent predictors of MSKD among patients with diabetes. This study found higher prevalence of MSKD among diabetic subjects. It also identified certain factors associated with MSKD among patients with diabetes mellitus.

Juvenile systemic lupus erythematosus in Nigeria.

Juvenile systemic lupus erythematosus (JSLE) is a complex multisystemic autoimmune disorder of unknown cause. It accounts for about one in five cases of SLE. The tendency for SLE to run a fulminant course when it starts in childhood has made JSLE a potentially more severe disease than adult SLE. Reports of JSLE from sub-Saharan Africa are scanty in spite of the increasing reports of adult SLE. We conducted a 4-year retrospective study of JSLE cases seen at the Lagos State University Teaching Hospital between January 2010 and December 2014. Out of the 12 patients studied, eight were girls and four were boys. All patients had positive antinuclear antibody and extractable nuclear antibody tests. Anti-dsDNA antibody was positive in 10 patients. Eight patients had renal disease while four patients had neuropsychiatric manifestations. Haematological abnormalities and constitutional symptoms were present in all patients. Patients were treated with pulse methylprednisolone, oral prednisolone, hydroxychloroquine and azathioprine. Three patients also received rituximab. In conclusion, JSLE exists in Nigeria and exhibits clinical and immunological characteristics similar to its pattern in other parts of the world. It is, however, diagnosed late and is possibly being underdiagnosed as there is no paediatric rheumatologist in the country.