[Infectious and other somatic comorbidity in problem drug users - results of a cross-sectional study with medical examination]. / Infekcní a dalsí somatická komorbidita problémových uzivatelu drog - výsledky prurezové studie s lékarským vysetrením.

BACKGROUND: Problem drug use is associated with excess risk of infectious and other somatic diseases resulting mainly from injecting drug use. MATERIAL AND METHODS: At the end of 2013, a complete medical history and physical examination was done in 40 problem drug users (30 males and 10 females), mean age 35.5 years (37.0 and 30.9, respectively), recruited in 4 low-threshold facilities in Prague. Of them, 37 were ex- or active injecting drug users, predominantly of methamphetamine (pervitin) and less often of buprenorphine. RESULTS: The study physician rated the health status as -good or satisfactory in 35 participants and as unsatisfactory in five participants (12.5%). The most common pathologies were dental problems (36 participants, i.e. 90.0%) and skin conditions (15.0%). The most prevalent dental pathology was caries while dermatological disorders were mostly trophic skin lesions on the lower legs, including crural ulcers, and injection site infections. Gynaecological pathology was found in 2 of 10 females. The study subjects were most commonly diagnosed with chronic hepatitis C, status post hepatitis A and B, chronic caries, missing teeth, post-thrombotic swelling and trophic skin lesions on the lower legs, purulent skin lesions, and gastroduo-denal ulcer. A vast majority of the study participants were smokers. All were referred to various specialists for further examination or treatment, mostly to stomatology, hepatology, gastroenterology, and internal/general medicine departments. However, in reality the treatment participation rate is low among problem drug users due to the drug use-specific factors and needs that limit access to treatment. CONCLUSION: The incidence of diverse somatic comorbidities requiring standard general medical care is significant among problem drug users. Infectious, dermatological, and dental pathologies are predominant. In areas with high prevalence of problem drug use, implementation of a special program should be considered to provide comprehensive medical care taking account of the special needs of this target group.

Anti-TNF therapy of ankylosing spondylitis in clinical practice. Results from the Czech national registry ATTRA.

OBJECTIVES: To estimate efficacy, safety and adherence to therapy of ankylosing spondlitis (AS) patients included in the Czech National Registry ATTRA, and to look for predictive factors for therapy discontinuation. METHODS: Patients were included according to the guidelines of the Czech Society for Rheumatology, which involve failure of previous therapy, BASDAI >4, and CRP >10 mg/l. Only patients with anti-TNF administered for the first time were analysed. Adherence to therapy was evaluated using Kaplan-Meier analysis and results were presented as cumulative survival. Comparison with data on patients with rheumatoid arthritis (RA) followed in the same registry was made. RESULTS: 310 of AS patients who had reached at least 1 year as well as those who discontinued the treatment before this time point were analysed. Drug survival was longer in patients with AS than in those with RA: 84% vs. 78% and 72% vs. 49% after 1 and 3 years of treatment. Significant risk factors for treatment discontinuation were female gender (RR 2.22, p=0.001) and CRP (RR 1.33, p=0.025). The proportion of patients with BASDAI <4 during the treatment period was higher in the etanercept group than in the infliximab group (p<0.001). The number of patients fully employed increased in the whole group from 48% to 63% after 1 year of treatment. CONCLUSION: Follow-up of patients with AS in the national registry shows that it is an effective and safe way of treatment with longer adherence to anti-TNF therapy in comparison with RA patients.

Factors influencing health status and disability of patients with ankylosing spondylitis in the Czech Republic.

The aim of the study was to evaluate factors that influence health status and work disability in patients with ankylosing spondylitis (AS) in the Czech Republic. Data were collected in a retrospective fashion directly from patients with AS using mailed questionnaires containing questions regarding sociodemographic characteristics of patients, the course of their disease, therapy, rehabilitation, quality of life, and ability to work. HAQ-DI (Health Assessment Questionnaire-Disability Index) and BASDAI (Bath Ankylosing Spondylitis Disease Activity Index) were also included in the questionnaires; 1,008 questionnaires were suitable for further statistical analysis. The average age +/- SD of patients was 50.2 +/- 10.7 years, the average symptom duration was 23.0 +/- 11.6 years. Mean time from first symptoms to diagnosis was 9.1 years. Full disability had been awarded to 303 patients (30%) at some point of their disease. Twenty seven percent of patients reported receiving full disability pension for 10 or more years. Four hundred fifty six subjects (45%) were currently or had been previously receiving partial disability pension. Receiving disability pension was more frequent among men (64%) compared to women (56%) (P = 0.012), despite the fact that women had higher BASDAI (P < 0.001) and HAQ-DI (P = 0.004) scores. Patients with a family history of AS had higher BASDAI and HAQ-DI scores (P = 0.001 and P = 0.008, respectively) compared to patients without a family history of AS. BASDAI and HAQ-DI scores correlated with age and duration of illness, younger patients and those with shorter disease duration had lower values. Fifty eight percent of patients reported a BASDAI score > or =4 (current cutoff value for initiation of biological therapy), but only 1% of patients were treated by anti TNF alpha agents within the last year. Seven hundred ninety one patients underwent spa treatment in the previous year; 96% of them experienced improvement of their health condition.

Comparison of clinical, laboratory, radiographic, and scintigraphic findings in erosive and nonerosive hand osteoarthritis. Results of a two-year study.

OBJECTIVES: The primary objective was to compare the clinical, radiologic, laboratory, and scintigraphic features in 28 patients with erosive hand osteoarthritis and in 24 with non-erosive hand osteoarthritis. Other objectives were to evaluate clinical, radiographic, and scintigraphic progression in the two groups over a two-year period and to estimate the value of bone scintigraphy for predicting clinical and radiographic progression. METHOD: Prospective two-year study of 52 patients with hand osteoarthritis, of whom 28 had at least three subchondral erosions and 24 patients had no erosions. RESULTS: The group with erosive disease had higher serum immunoglobulin G levels (14.53 +/- 3.79 mg/L vs. 12.03 +/- 4.01 mg/L; P < 0.05) and a higher radiographic index (91.81 +/- 3.67 vs. 25.88 +/- 12.81; P < 0.001), whereas the group with non-erosive disease had a higher rate of paresthesia (66.7% vs. 39.3%; P < 0.05) and higher values for the erythrocyte sedimentation rate (25.21 +/- 20.86 vs. 13.21 +/- 12.85; P < 0.05) and serum C-reactive protein level (8.82 +/- 6.08 vs. 3.25 +/- 6.92; P < 0.01). None of the other study parameters showed any significant differences, and both age and sex distribution were also similar in the two groups. At completion of the two-year follow-up, no changes versus baseline were found in any of the study parameters in the overall study population or in either of the two groups. The baseline scintigraphic index was significantly correlated with the radiographic index at baseline (r = 0.497; P < 0.01) and at study completion (r = 0.550; P < 0.001). Joints with a positive baseline scintigram were significantly more likely to show radiographic progression (21.09%, vs 6.68% in negative joints; P < 0.001) and joint tenderness exacerbation (21.22% vs. 13.73%; P < 0.001). CONCLUSION: These data suggest that bone scintigraphy may be useful for predicting clinical and radiographic progression of hand osteoarthritis with or without erosions.