RESUMO
INTRODUCTION: Although joint aspiration with synovial fluid analysis is useful in the diagnosis of crystal or septic arthritis, the frequency with which it provides a diagnosis or aids subsequent management of patients with arthritis has not been well quantified. We therefore evaluated the usefulness of joint aspiration in the diagnosis and management of patients with arthritis in a hospital-based rheumatology service. MATERIALS AND METHODS: We reviewed records of all patients with joint aspiration performed by an inpatient rheumatology service in a tertiary referral hospital from November 2003 to December 2004. Data were extracted on the frequency with which joint aspiration provided a diagnosis or aided management. RESULTS: Among 76 patients [mean +/- standard deviation (SD), 60.9 +/- 15.9 years; 41 males, 35 females, Chinese (50), Malay (20), Indian (4) and others (2)] with 86 joint aspirations, a definitive diagnosis was obtained in 44% of procedures which showed gout (n = 28), septic arthritis (n = 8) or pseudogout (n = 2). In another 47% of procedures, joint aspiration aided diagnosis by allowing categorisation of synovial fluid as inflammatory (n = 25), non-inflammatory (n = 16) or blood-stained (n = 2). Joint(s) aspirated were knees (71%), ankles (15%), elbows (8%), shoulders (2%) and wrists, metacarpo-phalangeal and metatarso-phalageal (approximately 1% each). CONCLUSION: Joint aspiration provides a definitive diagnosis or information that aids diagnosis in a significant number of patients in a hospital-based rheumatology service.
Assuntos
Artrite/diagnóstico , Líquido Sinovial/química , Idoso , Artrite/terapia , Artrite Infecciosa/diagnóstico , Condrocalcinose/diagnóstico , Feminino , Gota/diagnóstico , Departamentos Hospitalares , Humanos , Masculino , Pessoa de Meia-Idade , Estudos Retrospectivos , Reumatologia , SingapuraRESUMO
The Health Sciences Authority launched a pharmacogenetics initiative in 2008 to facilitate evaluation of pharmacogenetics associations pertinent for Chinese, Malays and Indians in Singapore. The aim was to reduce the incidence and unpredictability of serious adverse drug reactions, with a focus on serious skin adverse drug reactions. This paper describes the gathering of evidence and weighing of factors that led to different genotyping recommendations for HLA-B*15:02 with carbamazepine and HLA-B*58:01 with allopurinol, despite both having strong genetic associations. Translation of pharmacogenomics at a national level requires careful deliberation of the prevalence of at-risk allele, strength of genetic associations, positive predictive value, cost-effectiveness and availability of alternative therapies. Our experience provides a perspective on translating genomic discoveries in advancing drug safety.
Assuntos
Efeitos Colaterais e Reações Adversas Relacionados a Medicamentos/genética , Efeitos Colaterais e Reações Adversas Relacionados a Medicamentos/prevenção & controle , Dermatopatias/induzido quimicamente , Pele/efeitos dos fármacos , Alelos , Alopurinol/efeitos adversos , Carbamazepina/efeitos adversos , Análise Custo-Benefício/métodos , Antígenos HLA-B/genética , Humanos , Farmacogenética/métodos , Singapura , Dermatopatias/genéticaRESUMO
INTRODUCTION: Perioperative anaphylaxis is an anaesthetic emergency, but its incidence is not well described in the local literature. This retrospective study aims to look at a group of patients who had perioperative anaphylaxis in our institution. METHODS: We conducted a retrospective review of electronic databases and clinical case sheets, and identified 34 patients who had possible perioperative anaphylaxis during anaesthesia in our institution between 1 January 2007 and 30 April 2012. RESULTS: After reviewing clinical and biochemical data, we found that 16 out of 151,876 patients who underwent surgery had confirmed perioperative anaphylaxis, an incidence of 1:10,000. Neuromuscular blockers were identified as the most common causative agent for perioperative anaphylaxis. The offending agent could not be identified in seven patients. CONCLUSION: To the best of our knowledge, this is the first study in Southeast Asia on the incidence of perioperative anaphylaxis. Having a preoperative history of allergy did not seem to predispose patients to the subsequent development of perioperative anaphylaxis.
Assuntos
Anafilaxia/epidemiologia , Emergências/epidemiologia , Centros de Atenção Terciária , Adulto , Feminino , Humanos , Incidência , Masculino , Pessoa de Meia-Idade , Período Perioperatório , Estudos Retrospectivos , Singapura/epidemiologiaRESUMO
AIMS: To describe the spectrum of diseases seen in an outpatient setting in the Singapore General Hospital, the largest tertiary referral centre in Singapore. METHODS: In this cross-sectional study, medical records of patients scheduled for an appointment at the rheumatology specialist outpatient clinics over a 4-month period (10 August 2010-31 December 2010) were reviewed. Primary diagnoses documented by the attending physician at the latest visit were recorded. RESULTS: Among 4180 patients (29.5% male; mean [SD] age: 53.5 [15.1] years; 77.0% Chinese, 8.0% Malay, 8.8% Indian and 6.2% others), the spectrum of diseases seen was as follows [disease - definite n (%), probable n (%)]: Arthritis: rheumatoid arthritis - 958 (22.9%), 68 (1.6%); osteoarthritis - 452 (10.8%), 39 (0.9%); crystal arthritis - 417 (10.0%), 18 (0.4%); spondyloarthritis - 227 (5.4%), 61 (1.5%); psoriatic arthritis - 158 (3.8%), 9 (0.2%); other inflammatory arthritis - 153 (3.7%), 94 (2.2%); Connective tissues diseases: systemic lupus erythematosus - 412 (9.9%), 26 (0.6%); vasculitis - 105 (2.5%), 22 (0.5%); Sjögren's syndrome - 81 (1.9%), 32 (0.8%); overlap syndromes - 73 (1.8%); scleroderma - 50 (1.2%), 4 (0.1%); undifferentiated connective tissue diseases - 45 (1.1%), 106 (2.5%); myositis - 41 (1.0%), 12 (0.3%); antiphospholipid syndrome - 22 (0.5%), 7 (0.2%); polymyalgia rheumatica - 16 (0.4%); Others: soft tissue rheumatism - 155 (3.7%); osteoporosis - 61 (1.5%); other non-rheumatologic conditions - 189 (4.5%); other rheumatologic conditions - 67 (1.6%). CONCLUSION: Rheumatoid arthritis, osteoarthritis and crystal arthritis were the three most common rheumatological diseases seen in a tertiary referral centre serving a multi-ethnic urban Asian population in Singapore.
Assuntos
Povo Asiático , Doenças Autoimunes/etnologia , Pacientes Ambulatoriais , Doenças Reumáticas/etnologia , Reumatologia , Centros de Atenção Terciária , Saúde da População Urbana/etnologia , Adulto , Idoso , Artrite Reumatoide/diagnóstico , Artrite Reumatoide/etnologia , Povo Asiático/estatística & dados numéricos , Doenças Autoimunes/diagnóstico , Distribuição de Qui-Quadrado , Estudos Transversais , Feminino , Humanos , Lúpus Eritematoso Sistêmico/diagnóstico , Lúpus Eritematoso Sistêmico/etnologia , Masculino , Pessoa de Meia-Idade , Osteoartrite/diagnóstico , Osteoartrite/etnologia , Pacientes Ambulatoriais/estatística & dados numéricos , Encaminhamento e Consulta , Doenças Reumáticas/diagnóstico , Reumatologia/tendências , Singapura/epidemiologia , Centros de Atenção Terciária/tendências , Fatores de Tempo , Saúde da População Urbana/tendênciasRESUMO
Fibromyalgia syndrome (FMS) is a chronic and debilitating musculoskeletal pain disorder of unknown aetiology with usual accompanying features of fatigue, sleep disturbances and stiffness. Its place in medical textbooks was controversial with rheumatologists holding the helm of its management for many years. Over the last decade, abnormalities have been identified at multiple levels in the peripheral, central, and sympathetic nervous systems as well as the hypothalomo-pituitary-adrenal axis stress response system. With the elucidation of these pathways of pain, FMS is known more as a central sensitivity syndrome. This led to tremendous increment in interest in both pharmacological and non-pharmacological treatment of FMS. The United States Food and Drug Administration (FDA) has also successively approved 3 drugs for the management of fibromyalgia--pregabalin, duloxetine and milnacipran. Non-pharmacological modalities showed aerobic exercise, patient education and cognitive behavioural therapy to be most effective. Overall, management of FMS requires a multi-disciplinary approach.