Chlorambucil therapy in rheumatoid arthritis: clinical experience in 28 patients and literature review.

Our clinical experience in 28 patients receiving chlorambucil for rheumatoid arthritis (RA) and the reports on chlorambucil therapy are reviewed. Our study population and other reports generally represent patients with severe RA who had either failed to improve or developed significant toxicity during previous treatment with conventional slow acting anti-rheumatic drugs (SAARDs). Seventy-two percent of patients had a significant clinical improvement during chlorambucil therapy and reports of complete remission are given, although the incidence of remission is unknown. Hematologic complications are often reported, but appeared more frequently in our experience than previously reported. Hematologic toxicity required that chlorambucil be discontinued in the majority of our cases. Two deaths from suspected drug induced malignancies are reported. Although chlorambucil appears to be effective in the control of active RA, the potential for drug induced toxicity and malignancies may outweigh the benefit of continued use of this experimental therapy in RA.

Circulating immune complexes containing secretory IgA in jejunoileal bypass disease.

Thirteen patients were studied after jejunoileal bypass (JIB) surgery. Seven developed arthritis and six did not. Circulating immune complexes containing IgG and IgA were detected in the sera of patients with and without arthritis. IgA complexes were shown to contain secretory component, a protein predominantly associated with intraluminal IgA, in significantly higher levels in patients with arthritis. Analytical ultracentrifugation showed complexes of approximately 10 X 8S, consistent with the size of secretory IgA. Arthritis after JIB appears to be associated with circulating immune complexes containing secretory IgA.

Spontaneous nasal septal perforation in patients with rheumatoid arthritis.

Nasal septal perforation is known to be associated with various traumatic and disease states, yet spontaneous nasal septal perforation (SNSP) is relatively rare. SNSP has been reported in three patients with seropositive rheumatoid arthritis (RA) and we report an additional seven patients with SNSP and RA, four of whom were seronegative and none of whom had Raynaud's, in contrast to those reported previously. Manifestations of overt infectious, neoplastic or granulomatous disease have not been found in our seven patients over several years of close follow-up. We have identified no obvious pathogenesis or specific etiology for SNSP. We suggest that SNSP may represent an unusual manifestation of RA previously not well recognized.

Clinical manifestations of synovial cysts.

Although synovial cysts are most commonly associated with rheumatoid arthritis and osteoarthritis, they may occur in many other conditions. The clinical manifestations of these cysts are numerous and may result from pressure, dissection or acute rupture. Vascular phenomena occur when popliteal cysts compress vessels, and result in venous stasis with subsequent lower extremity edema or thrombophlebitis. Rarely, popliteal cysts may cause arterial compromise with intermittent claudication. Neurological sequelae include pain, paresthesia, sensory loss, and muscle weakness or atrophy. When synovial cysts occur as mass lesions they may mimic popliteal aneurysms or hematomas, adenopathy, tumors or even inguinal hernias. Cutaneous joint fistulas, septic arthritis or osteomyelitis, and spinal cord and bladder compression are examples of other infrequent complications. Awareness of the heterogeneous manifestations of synovial cysts may enable clinicians to avoid unnecessary diagnostic studies and delay in appropriate management. Arthrography remains the definitive diagnostic procedure of choice, although ultrasound testing may be useful.

Articular complications of jejunoileal bypass surgery.

Articular complications are now frequently recognized with jejunoileal-bypass surgery for morbid obesity. We have evaluated 6 referred patients with these problems and 50 consecutive patients who had this procedure. The arthritis is variable but usually affects multiple joints. Four patients were seen during acute attacks of arthritis and all had cryoprecipitable material in their sera and plasma. Three of these 4 patients had evidence of Group D streptococcal antigen present while their joint disease was active, suggesting a possible role for bacterial antigens in the pathogenesis of the arthritis of jejunoileal bypass.

Localized nodular synovitis of the knee: a case report.

A 25-year-old man with chronic swelling of the right knee had a mass that was eventually palpated in the suprapatellar pouch. Arthrotomy and biopsy revealed localized nodular synovitis. Since surgical excision of the mass the patient has been asymptomatic. While localized nodular synovitis generally appears as an internal derangement of the joint, this patient had signs and symptoms of chronic monoarthritis.

Nodular nonsuppurative panniculitis associated with jejunoileal bypass surgery.

A 32-year-old woman underwent jejunoileal bypass surgery for morbid obesity. Her postoperative course was marked with many of the complications of this type of surgery. In addition, tender, erythematous nodules developed on her legs and abdomen that were grossly and microscopically consistent with nodular nonsuppurative panniculitis. She did not have any condition or disease previously reported to be associated with nodular nonsuppurative inflammation. The nodular panniculitis in this patient appears to be a new complication of small-bowel bypass surgery.