Effect of periodontal therapy on disease activity in patients of rheumatoid arthritis with chronic periodontitis.

BACKGROUND: Evidence have been proposed a positive association between severity of Periodontitis and Rheumatoid arthritis (RA) activity, individuals with advanced RA are more likely to develop periodontal problems compared to their non-RA counterparts, and vice versa. Studies have been suggested that RA manifest as a result of an inflammatory imbalance and autoimmunity. In this perspective, treatment modalities that lead to inhibition of proinflammatory mediators, may prove beneficial for reducing the severity of RA. This study examined the effects of non surgical periodontal therapy (NSPT) on disease activity of RA. METHODS: Diagnosed patients of active rheumatoid arthritis with chronic periodontitis were recruited in this study and divided in to treatment and controls groups, both groups were similar in all demographics assessed. Treatment group (n = 20) and controls group (n = 20) underwent assessment for periodontal clinical parameters (plaque index, gingival index, probing pocket depth, clinical attachment level), Rheumatologic clinical (simplified disease activity index) and biochemical parameters(C-reactive protein, Rheumatoid factor, Anti-cyclic citrullinated protein) at baseline and 8 weeks. Serum levels of biochemical parameters were measured by enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay (ELISA). RESULTS: The statistically significant (p < 0.001) reduction observed in mean values of PI, GI, PPD, CAL, SDAI in treatment group at 8weeks after NSPT as compare to control group. However serum level of ACCPA, CRP and RF did not show statistically significant (p > 0.05) changes from baseline to reassessment (8 weeks) in both groups. CONCLUSIONS: The improvement in RA disease activity may occurs after non surgical periodontal therapy.

Distribution of rheumatological diseases in rural and urban areas: An adapted COPCORD Stage I Phase III survey of Lucknow district in north India.

OBJECTIVES: To study the distribution of various rheumatological diseases in rural and urban areas of Lucknow, India. METHOD: A study using adapted a Community Oriented Program for the Control of Rheumatic Diseases scheme was carried out in a cluster of rural (n = 5118) and urban (n = 5053) communities through a door-to-door survey. Trained community volunteers completed the questionnaires. Patients with musculoskeletal pain (MSK pain) were clinically evaluated by a physician. X-ray examinations and blood investigations were also done. Diagnosis was made according to International Classification of Diseases-9 classification system. RESULTS: Among persons reporting MSK pain in rural areas, high prevalence of osteoarthritis (OA) knee (35%) was observed followed by fibromyalgia (32.1%), backache (28.4%), non-specific pain (NSP) (20.7%) and rheumatoid arthritis (RA) (1.2%). In urban area, OA knee (36.3%) and backache (36.6%) were found highly prevalent, followed by fibromyalgia (11.1%), NSP (10.9%) and neck pain (7.4%). In urban areas among MSK pain patients, prevalence of RA was only 1.6%. Age-adjusted analysis among urban people showed backache complaints begin early (>20 years) than rural people. Significantly higher numbers of Knee OA complaints emerged among urban people than rural in the age group 21-60 years. Projected population prevalence of knee OA was 44.9 and 106.07/1000 in rural and urban areas, respectively. Further projected population prevalences of fibromyalgia, backache, RA and NSP in rural and urban areas are 41.2 and 32.4, 36.5 and 106.6, 1.56 and 4.74, 26.0 and 32.0 per 1000, respectively. CONCLUSION: OA knee, fibromyalgia, backache and NSP are predominant health problems of both areas. Female preponderance was observed in all rheumatological diseases in both the areas.

Lean Mass and Disease Activity are the Best Predictors of Bone Mineral Loss in the Premenopausal Women with Rheumatoid Arthritis.

BACKGROUND AND OBJECTIVES: Factors determining bone mineral (BM) loss in rheumatoid arthritis (RA) are not well known. This study aimed to determine the occurrence and predictors of BM loss in the young premenopausal women with RA. METHODS: Ninety-six females with RA and 90 matched controls underwent clinical, biochemical, BM density (BMD), and body composition assessments. RA disease activity was assessed using disease activity score-28 (DAS-28) and hand X-ray. RESULTS: In the young premenopausal females with RA having median symptom and treatment duration of 30 (18-60) and 4 (2-12) months, respectively, with moderate disease activity (DAS-28, 4.88 ± 1.17), occurrence of osteoporosis and osteopenia was 7.29% and 25% at spine, 6.25% and 32.29% at hip, and 17.7% and 56.25% at wrist, respectively (significantly higher than controls). RA patients had lower BMD at total femur, lumbar spine (LS), radius total, and radius ultra-distal. Total lean mass (LM) and BM content were significantly lower in RA (P = 0.022 and <0.001, respectively). In RA, BMD at majority of sites (LS, neck of femur, greater trochanter, radius total, and radius 33%) had the strongest positive correlation with LM followed by body fat percent. RA patients with most severe disease had lowest BMD at different sites and lowest LM. Stepwise linear regression revealed LM followed by DAS-28 to be best predictors of BMD. RA patients receiving glucocorticoids did not have significantly different BMDs from patients not taking glucocorticoids. INTERPRETATION AND CONCLUSION: BM loss is a significant problem in the young premenopausal women with recent-onset RA. LM and disease severity were the best predictors of BMD.

Oral Methotrexate in split dose weekly versus oral or parenteral Methotrexate once weekly in Rheumatoid Arthritis: a short-term study.

OBJECTIVE: To investigate whether methotrexate (MTX) administered orally to rheumatoid arthritis (RA) patients in split doses at 2-3 days' interval, would result in equal or better efficacy, tolerability and compliance, without increasing toxicity compared to single weekly dose given orally or parenterally. MATERIALS AND METHODS: One hundred and thirty-five patients fulfilling the American College of Rheumatology (ACR) 2010 criteria for RA, on 7.5 mg of MTX weekly orally, with the Simplified Disease Activity Index (SDAI) > 11 were enrolled for a 24-week period. Patients were randomly divided into three groups and were given MTX: Group 1 7.5 mg twice or thrice weekly orally, Group 2 15 mg or 22.5 mg in a single dose weekly orally and Group 3 15 mg or 22.5 mg in a single dose weekly as an intramuscular injection. The primary outcomes were low disease activity (LDA) and mean change in SDAI at week 24, whereas secondary outcomes included remission, adverse events and compliance. RESULTS: At week 24, adherence to treatment was maximum in Group 1, 69% (P = 0.09). In intention-to-treat analysis at 24 weeks, Group 1, 49%, Group 2, 36% and Group 3, 47% achieved LDA (P = 0.4). There was significant difference in mean change in SDAI at week 24 from baseline (P = 0.008) among the groups. Group 3 patients were more uncomfortable with the mode of administration of MTX (P = 0.003). There was no significant difference in adverse events. CONCLUSION: Oral split doses of MTX are better than an oral single dose and similar to parenteral MTX in terms of efficacy.

Performances of Clinical Disease Activity Index (CDAI) and Simplified Disease Activity Index (SDAI) appear to be better than the gold standard Disease Assessment Score (DAS-28-CRP) to assess rheumatoid arthritis patients.

BACKGROUND/PURPOSE: To compare the performance of Disease Assessment Score of 28 joints - C-reactive protein (DAS-28-CRP), Clinical Disease Activity Index (CDAI) and Simplified Disease Activity Index (SDAI) composite measures to assess status of patients with rheumatoid arthritis (RA) on methotrexate, versus DAS-28 CRP as the gold standard. METHODS: One hundred and thirty-five patients with RA as per the 2010 American College of Rheumatology/European League Against Rheumatism criteria were included in the prospective study. The disease activity was assessed at baseline and at every 6 weeks for 24 weeks, by DAS-28-CRP, CDAI and SDAI. Patients were divided into groups of remission, low, moderate and high activity on the basis of predefined cut-offs for DAS-28-CRP, CDAI and SDAI. A Spearman correlation between composite measures and inter-group comparison of the measures was performed. RESULTS: There was an excellent positive correlation between DAS-28-CRP and CDAI (linear weighted κ baseline - 0.545), DAS-28 CRP and SDAI (linear weighted κ - 0.689) at baseline. There was moderate agreement between DAS-28-CRP and CDAI (linear weighted κ final visit - 0.458) at final visit. There was moderate correlation between SDAI and DAS-28-CRP at final visit (linear weighted κ - 0.470). However, correlation between CDAI versus SDAI remained excellent at baseline and final visit. Patients in remission as per DAS-28-CRP had significantly more residual disease activity compared to SDAI and CDAI remission criteria. CONCLUSION: The study shows an excellent strong positive correlation between DAS-28-CRP, CDAI and SDAI at initial evaluation but not at final visit. SDAI- and CDAI-based remission criteria seem to be better than DAS-28-CRP-based remission criteria.

Does long term colchicine prevent degradation of collagen fiber network in osteoarthritis?

AIM: Several studies have shown that colchicine exhibits an improvement in the symptoms of knee osteoarthritis (OA) but its effect on disease progression is unknown. To clarify the mechanism of action this study was done to see if colchicine prevents degradation of collagen fiber network in OA by studying serum cartilage oligomeric matrix protein (COMP) levels, a marker of cartilage turnover, over a period of 1 year. METHODS: Seventy-five patients received colchicine plus paracetamol and 75 received placebo alone for the same time period. Serum COMP assays were done at baseline, 2 months and 1 year by enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay. These markers were compared between visits using repeated measures analysis of variance. RESULTS: Serum COMP levels in the paracetamol-alone group did not show significant change between baseline and 2 months; however, there was a significant increase in serum COMP levels from 2 months to 1 year, suggesting increased uncoupling of proteoglycans from collagen and disease progression. No such change was seen in the colchicine group, signifying lack of progression of disease in this group. CONCLUSION: Colchicine may act as a disease-modifying agent in OA.

Ultrasonographic detection of double contour sign and hyperechoic aggregates for diagnosis of gout: two sites examination is as good as six sites examination.

OBJECTIVE: To compare ultrasound-detected abnormalities, namely double contour sign (DCS) and hyperechoic aggregates (HAGs), at two sites (knee and first metatarsophalangeal [1st MTP] joints) versus six sites (knee joint, 1st MTP joint, radiocarpal joint, talar joint, patellar tendon and triceps tendon) in gout patients. METHODS: Forty-seven clinically diagnosed gout patients and 50 subjects (serum uric acid < 7 mg/dL) as controls were included. DCS was looked for at three articular cartilage sites (first metatarsal, tibiotalar and femoral condyle), whereas HAGs were looked for at one joint site (radiocarpal joint) and two tendon sites (patellar tendon and triceps tendon). Ultrasound findings of both the groups were compared. RESULTS: Sensitivity, specificity, positive predictive value (PPV), negative predictive value (NPV) and positive likelihood ratio (LR) of two sites ultrasound findings for gout were 87.2%, 84%, 83.7%, 85.6% and 5.5 respectively. Similar sensitivity, specificity, PPV, NPV and positive LR were observed with six sites ultrasound findings. Among controls, 16% were found to have these abnormal ultrasound findings by both two sites and six sites examinations. CONCLUSION: Screening of two sites (knee and 1st MTP) has similar sensitivity, specificity, PPV, NPV and positive LR as compared to six sites in diagnosing gout.

Prevalence of rheumatic musculoskeletal symptoms in rural and urban areas : a cross-sectional study in northern India.

OBJECTIVES: To study the prevalence of rheumatic musculoskeletal symptoms in rural and urban areas of Lucknow. METHOD: The survey was carried out in a cluster of rural (n = 5118) and urban (n = 5053) communities of Lucknow through a door-to-door survey. Demographic data were collected and subjects with musculoskeletal pain (MSK pain) were identified. A Hindi adapted version of the Community Oriented Program for the Control of Rheumatic Diseases questionnaire was used. Trained community volunteers completed the questionnaire. RESULTS: Present and past MSK pain was the most common self-reported problem in urban areas (34.1%), while it was the third most common self-reported problem in rural areas (15.1%), after abdominal pain and cough. Females (214.9 and 419.5 per 1000) were more affected than males (118.8 and 265.2 per 1000) in rural and urban areas, respectively. Point prevalence of MSK pain (pain in last week) was higher in urban areas (28.2%) compared to rural areas (14.1%). In rural as well as urban areas, knee (rural: 49.3%, urban: 50.6%) and spine (rural: 56%, urban: 43.6%) were highly reported pain sites. Fatigue ([n] rural: 328, urban: 368) weakness ([n] rural: 310, urban: 324) and anorexia ([n] rural: 84, urban: 142) were most common systemic symptoms reported by urban as well as rural people. Urethritis/balanitis and ulcers in the mouth were the most common other symptoms reported by people in both the areas. CONCLUSION: MSK pain is a predominant health problem of both rural and urban areas. Sex-adjusted prevalence is higher among females than males. Knee and back were highly prevalent pain sites in both rural and urban areas of Lucknow.

Arthritis and adult respiratory distress syndrome: unusual presentations of typhoid fever.

A middle-aged woman presented with fever of 1-month duration along with bilateral knee joint pain, swelling and difficulty in walking for 2 weeks. The patient's Typhidot test was positive for IgM antibodies. Her Widal test was negative, and blood culture and synovial fluid culture were sterile. She was started on ceftriaxone, to which her fever initially responded. However, after 4 days of treatment her disease course was complicated by relapse of fever and acute respiratory distress syndrome (ARDS). This settled with respiratory support and addition of azithromycin. Following recovery from ARDS and fever, her persistent knee arthritis responded to intra-articular methyl prednisolone instillation.

Andersson lesion in ankylosing spondylitis.

A middle-aged male patient developed acute back pain and a lumbar vertebral lesion following trivial physical trauma. The lesion was considered as tuberculous on vertebral x-rays and MRI. After biopsy of the lesion and spinal fixation, the patient was kept on empirical antituberculous treatment (ATT) to which he did not respond. On re-evaluation he was diagnosed to have an Andersson lesion in ankylosing spondylitis (AS). ATT was stopped and he was successfully managed by rest, steroids, methotrexate and sulfasalazine. A careful look at the patient's plain x-ray spine and awareness about the lesion can avoid misdiagnosis of this characteristic vertebral lesion found in AS.

X-ray knee as a screening tool for osteoporosis.

Cortical thickness (Cor-Th) of tibia varies considerably on X-ray knees. It was hypothesized that Cor-Th can be used for preliminary prediction of BMD. Ninety nine patients underwent a digital X-ray left knee fixed flexion PA view with an external calibration scale attached to X-ray plate and BMD by DXA using GE lunar machine (Madison, Wisconsin.). Cor-Th was measured at 5 selected levels (A,B,C,D, and E) ranging from 5-7 cm below the tibial plateau on its medial aspect. T-scores were recorded for BMD at AP spine, left forearm and left femur. Cor-Th of tibia at each level significantly correlated with each site of BMD measurement namely AP spine, left femur and left forearm. This correlation varied in the range from 0.241 to 0.426. For AP spine, it was maximum at level C (r=0.347, p<0.001) whereas for left femur and forearm sites, it was maximum at level B (r=0.426 &r=0.373 respectively, p<0.001). The correlation of Cor-Th with BMD varied with age. Above 56 years of age, Cor-Th at each level significantly correlated to BMD at each site. Medial tibial cortical thickness, 6 cm (level C) below tibial plateau can be used as preliminary predictor of patients who need a DXA scan.

A randomized controlled trial to evaluate the slow-acting symptom-modifying effects of colchicine in osteoarthritis of the knee: a preliminary report.

OBJECTIVE: To determine if colchicine added to nimesulide may have a beneficial effect on osteoarthritis (OA) of the knee. METHODS: Colchicine 0.5 mg twice daily or placebo was added to nimesulide (a nonsteroidal antiinflammatory drug) in 36 patients with OA of the knee in a randomized, double-blind, placebo-controlled trial over a 5-month period. RESULTS: The 30% improvement rate at 20 weeks was higher in the colchicine group than in the control group receiving placebo, as measured by total Western Ontario and McMaster University Osteoarthritis scores (57.9% versus 23.5%) and visual analog scale for index knee pain (52.6% versus 17.6%) (primary measures of response). The significance persisted on combined analysis by Mantel-Haenszel test (P = 0.062). Comparison of means also showed significant improvement in the colchicine group versus the control group in a multivariate analysis performed using T(2) test (P = 0.0115). CONCLUSION: Among patients with OA of the knee, the group receiving colchicine plus nimesulide exhibited significantly greater symptomatic benefit at 20 weeks than did the control group receiving nimesulide plus placebo.