EULAR evidence-based recommendations for the management of fibromyalgia syndrome.

OBJECTIVE: To develop evidence-based recommendations for the management of fibromyalgia syndrome. METHODS: A multidisciplinary task force was formed representing 11 European countries. The design of the study, including search strategy, participants, interventions, outcome measures, data collection and analytical method, was defined at the outset. A systematic review was undertaken with the keywords "fibromyalgia", "treatment or management" and "trial". Studies were excluded if they did not utilise the American College of Rheumatology classification criteria, were not clinical trials, or included patients with chronic fatigue syndrome or myalgic encephalomyelitis. Primary outcome measures were change in pain assessed by visual analogue scale and fibromyalgia impact questionnaire. The quality of the studies was categorised based on randomisation, blinding and allocation concealment. Only the highest quality studies were used to base recommendations on. When there was insufficient evidence from the literature, a Delphi process was used to provide basis for recommendation. RESULTS: 146 studies were eligible for the review. 39 pharmacological intervention studies and 59 non-pharmacological were included in the final recommendation summary tables once those of a lower quality or with insufficient data were separated. The categories of treatment identified were antidepressants, analgesics, and "other pharmacological" and exercise, cognitive behavioural therapy, education, dietary interventions and "other non-pharmacological". In many studies sample size was small and the quality of the study was insufficient for strong recommendations to be made. CONCLUSIONS: Nine recommendations for the management of fibromyalgia syndrome were developed using a systematic review and expert consensus.

[Prospective evaluation of fracture risk in osteoporotic patients after low cement volume vertebroplasty]. / Suivi prospectif du risque fracturaire après vertébroplastie utilisant un faible volume de ciment chez des patients ostéoporotiques.

PURPOSE: To prospectively compare the incidence of new fractures (as demonstrated on MR) within the first 3 months after an initial fracture in a population treated with low cement volume vertebroplasty and a population treated conservatively. MATERIALS AND METHODS: From 49 patients admitted for osteoporotic vertebral compression fracture, 22 underwent CT guided vertebroplasty with injection of 1-3 ml of PMMA, and 27 were treated conservatively. All patients underwent MR at presentation and at 3 months to detect new compression fractures. RESULTS: Twelve patients (54%) treated with vertebroplasty showed new fractures at 3 months compared to 10 (37%) in the control group. This was not statistically different (p=0.049). In the vertebroplasty group, the new fractures involved vertebrae adjacent to the treated vertebra in 77% of cases (p=0.009) compared to only 15% in the control group. During the 3-month period, 3 patients, including 2 treated with vertebroplasty, required hospital admission due to fracture related acute lumbar back pain. CONCLUSION: The small amount of injected cement does not prevent fractures of adjacent vertebrae but does reduce the extravasation of PMMA in adjacent tissues.

Predictive factors of efficacy of periradicular corticosteroid injections for lumbar radiculopathy.

BACKGROUND AND PURPOSE: Steroid periradicular infiltration is a common nonsurgical sciatic pain treatment of inconsistent efficacy. The purpose of this study was to identify factors for predicting the efficacy or failure of this procedure. METHODS: Two hundred twenty-nine patients with lumbar radiculopathy were prospectively followed up at 2 weeks and 1 year after percutaneous periradicular steroid infiltration. The intensity of radicular pain was scored on the visual analog scale (VAS). Pain relief was classified as "excellent" when the pain was completely resolved or had diminished by 75% or more, "good" for a diminution of 50% to 74%, "fair" for a diminution of 25% to 49%, or "poor" for a diminution of less than 25% or an increase in pain. RESULTS: The mean VAS scores were 6.5 (range, 3.1-9.5) before and 4.2 (range, 0-9.5) 2 weeks after the procedure. Pain relief was graded as excellent in 45 patients (19.7%), good in 48 patients (21%), fair in 45 patients (19.7%), and poor in 91 patients (39.7%). Cause of pain, conflict location, and pain intensity were not predictive factors of radicular pain relief, whereas the symptom duration before the procedure was highly correlated with the pain relief outcome. Patients with excellent results 2 weeks after the procedure had a mean duration of symptoms of 3.04 months (SD 3.28) versus 7.96 months (DS 9.04) in the group with poor pain relief. CONCLUSIONS: Periradicular infiltration is a simple, safe, and effective nonsurgical procedure that should be performed quite early in the course of the illness to provide radicular pain relief, because corticosteroid infiltration is less beneficial for patients with more chronic radicular pain.

Awareness and knowledge of fibromyalgia among French rheumatologists and general practitioners.

OBJECTIVES: Fibromyalgia is a chronic disorder characterized by widespread musculoskeletal pain and fatigue. Its prevalence is estimated to be at 3.4% in women and 0.5% in men. It is a major cause of morbidity. Our objective was to evaluate, using a self-questionnaire sent by mail, the level of knowledge of French physicians, general practitioners, and rheumatologists on fibromyalgia and to analyse their therapeutic approach. METHODS: The demographic characteristics of a sample of general practitioners and rheumatologists were compared to those of the overall data available. This comparison demonstrated the good representativeness of our sample. RESULTS: Fibromyalgia was considered as a disease by 23% of rheumatologists and 33% of general practitioners. While on average, each rheumatologist followed 30 fibromyalgia patients, each general practitioner followed 6.1 patients (i.e., 2 to 5% of their practice's patient base). Among rheumatologists, 6.4% made no distinction between this disease and depression vs. 13.1% of general practitioners. The diagnosis of fibromyalgia was made based on tenderness that occurs in precise, localized areas of the body (trigger points) by 94% of rheumatologists and 79.1% of general practitioners. Of general practitioners and rheumatologists, 93.7% and 73.7% respectively, have not received any medical school training on fibromyalgia or chronic fatigue syndrome. CONCLUSION: Given the lack of medical school training and continuing professional education concerning fibromyalgia (rare use of pain rating scales, confusion in the classification of rheumatic diseases), there is an urgent need to initiate an explicit teaching effort on chronic pain, and on fibromyalgia in particular.

Enhancement of leukotriene A4 biosynthesis in neutrophils from patients with rheumatoid arthritis after a single glucocorticoid dose.

Human blood polymorphonuclear cells (PMN) from seven patients with active rheumatoid arthritis (RA) were compared for their capacities to produce leukotrienes ex vivo before (D0) and 24 hr (D1) after glucocorticoid pulse therapy. The present study shows for the first time that endogenous arachidonic acid metabolism via 5-lipoxygenase pathway is significantly increased after glucocorticoid administration, leading to increased generation of the unstable precursor leukotriene A4 (LTA4) followed by predominant non-enzymatic LTA4 opening and leukotriene B4 (LTB4) omega-hydroxylation pathway. These results are unexpected since usually glucocorticoids are usually thought to decrease inflammatory mediator biosynthesis and, moreover, they work to the detriment of the clinical improvement of the patient. The results are discussed in terms of product inactivation and cellular cooperation with monocytes and endothelial cells.

Motor cortical dysfunction disclosed by single and double magnetic stimulation in patients with fibromyalgia.

OBJECTIVE: To investigate the motor cortex by single and double magnetic stimulation, in patients with fibromyalgia. METHODS: Thirteen patients with fibromyalgia and 13 age-matched healthy subjects were examined. We evaluated, in both limbs, motor evoked potential (MEP) latency and amplitude and the MCA/MPA ratio, i.e. MEP cortical amplitude (MCA) /maximal peripheral amplitude of the M response (MPA), the central conduction time (TCC) and the length of the silent period (SP). With double magnetic stimulation, different time intervals between shocks were used: with delays between shocks of 4, 25, 55 and 85 ms, the intensities of the conditioning shock were 80% the relaxed threshold. With delays between shocks of 55, 85, 100, 155, 200, 255 and 355 ms, the intensities of the conditioning shocks were set at 150% the relaxed threshold. In all cases, the intensity of the test shock was 150% the relaxed threshold. The results were also compared with those obtained in 5 women affected by rheumatoid arthritis (RA). RESULTS: As compared to control, the cortical relaxed threshold was enhanced on both sides and limbs (P<0.05). The cortical silent period recorded with single magnetic stimulation was reduced in the upper limbs (P = 2.7x10(-11)) and lower limbs (both sides P = 3.6x10(-5)). The other parameters investigated were normal. With double magnetic stimulation, facilitatory phenomena were absent in fibromyalgic patients and the inhibitory responses recorded with a delay of 155 ms were reduced (P = 0.0052). No significant differences were noted between FM and RA patients. CONCLUSION: This study demonstrated motor cortical dysfunction in patients with fibromyalgia involving excitatory and inhibitory mechanisms. This indicates motor cortical involvement and supports the hypothesis of aberrant central pain mechanisms. The absence of differences between FM and RA suggest that the lesions were not specific and could be related to chronic pain disorders within the central nervous system.

Pubic post-fracture osteolysis simulating a malignancy.

The authors report one case of pubic post-fracture osteolysis, an uncommon and as yet not well understood pathology. It corresponds to an unusual healing of an insufficiency fracture in osteoporotic patients. Its pathogenesis is unclear, but the biomechanical theory seems to be the most convincing.

Tophaceous gout of the patella with primary hyperparathyroidism.

The case of an 81-year-old woman with persistent post-traumatic pain of the knee linked to tophaceous gout of the patella is presented. This gout was associated with adenomatous primary hyperparathyroidism. The relationship between hyperuricemia, hyperparathyroidism and chronic renal failure is discussed.

Plasma lipoperoxides and aging. Critical assessment of the thiobarbituric acid method for the measurement of lipoperoxides and malondialdehyde.

Thiobarbituric acid reactive products were measured in plasma of 66 normal subjects ranging from 19 to 92 years of age. A significant correlation (r = 0.54, p less than 10(-6) was formed between the level of these metabolites and the age of the subjects. As a matter of fact this method analyzes two kinds of substances from two different origins, free malondialdehyde or lipid peroxides. These two fractions were identified by extracting lipids using Folch's method and leaving all free malondialdehyde in the plasma (95.6 +/- 11.8% recovery for a known amount added to the plasma). Plasma analysis prior to and after extraction showed that thiobarbituric acid reactive products were lipid peroxides for 74.8 +/- 4.3%, the remainder being free malondialdehyde. The origin of these two fractions is discussed.

Measurement of the bone mineral density of the os calcis as an indication of vertebral fracture in women with lumbar osteoarthritis.

In women with lumbar osteoarthritis, measurement of the os calcis bone mineral density (BMD) using dual-energy X-ray absorptiometry (DEXA) as an indication of vertebral fracture was evaluated. The in vivo precision of the method was 1.28%. Age- and sex-matched control curves were evaluated using a control of 193 females. The correlation between spine BMD and os calcis BMD was significant (r = 0.65, p << 0.001). For the osteoporotic women without osteoarthritis (n = 34), there was no significant difference in the spine and the os calcis Z-scores (-1.99SD and -1.83SD respectively). Whereas for osteoporotic women with osteoarthritis (n = 30) the spine Z-score was -0.49SD the os calcis Z-score was -1.92SD. The difference was significant (p < 0.001). Receiver operating characteristic (ROC) curves demonstrate the superiority of the os calcis as a measurement site over the lumbar spine, in correlation with existing crush fractures in the presence of osteoarthritis. It is concluded that when lumbar osteoarthritis occurs measurement of the os calcis BMD using DEXA is clinically useful for the estimation of bone mass.

Sacral insufficiency fractures presenting as acute low-back pain. Biomechanical aspects.

Sacral insufficiency fractures are an often unsuspected cause of low-back pain in elderly women with osteopenia who have sustained unknown or only minimal trauma. The authors describe 10 cases of spontaneous sacral insufficiency fractures, confirmed by computed tomography, characterized by the onset of acute low-back pain. Differential clinical and radiographic diagnosis of these fractures is often difficult. Recognition of the characteristic scintigraphic patterns in sacral fractures, which are frequent in osteopenic patients, could avoid mistaken diagnoses and unnecessary tests or treatment. One of the striking feature of these sacral fractures is their invariable location. The fractures extend vertically in the sacral alae, parallel to the sacroiliac joints. They are located just lateral to the margins of the lumbar spine. This distribution suggests that such fractures could be partially caused by weight-bearing transmitted through the spine.

Multiple psoas abscesses after posterior spinal fusion.

STUDY DESIGN: A case of multiple psoas abscesses after Dove lumbar spine fixation is reported. OBJECTIVES: To review the diagnosis and treatment of deep infection after internal spinal fixation. METHODS: The possibility of septic complications after spinal surgery that may present with a degenerative pattern is examined. The clinical and computed tomographic findings of a psoas abscess are recalled. RESULTS: Surgical drainage of the purulent collection was performed along with prolonged parenteral antibiotic treatment. CONCLUSION: Infection should be considered as a cause of recurrence of pain after internal fixation of the lumbar spine.

Stenosis of the lumbar spinal canal in vertebral ankylosing hyperostosis.

Certain morphologic features frequently observed in radiography or computed tomography (CT) scan in patients with hyperostosis led us to study the association between a narrowed spinal canal and vertebral hyperostosis. Twenty-eight items were selected and studied by three different investigators (two rheumatologists and one radiologist) in radiographs and CT scans of 100 patients with acquired stenosis of the lumbar canal, with or without hyperostosis (46 and 54 cases, respectively). The most distinctive points that we suggest can be used as diagnostic criteria of the hyperostotic narrowed lumbar canal are anterior or posterior lateral marginal somatic osseous proliferations, proliferations of the nonarticular aspects of the posterior apophyses, and ossifications of the posterior articular capsule and of the ligaments (yellow ligament, posterior longitudinal ligament, and the supraspinal ligament). Four of these six criteria should be present to establish the diagnosis of hyperostotic lumbar stenosis. The appearance of lumbar hyperostosis on X-ray or CT scans differs from that of simple degenerative changes due to arthrosis, and the hyperostosis can be held responsible for dural compression.

Lumbar posterior marginal node (LPMN) in adults. Report of fifteen cases.

This report concerns 15 adults (nine men and six women) who experienced lumbar and sciatic pain associated with an unusual defect of the edges of the vertebral bodies together with a small bony ridge protruding into the spinal canal. This lesion was well demonstrated by computed tomography and easily differentiated from the posterior longitudinal ligament or herniated disc calcifications, as well as from posterior degenerative ridge osteophytes. This lesion looked like the so-called lumbar posterior marginal node. First described in adolescents, this entity was considered as a traumatic fracture of the posterior ring apophysis. Recently, identical cases were noted in young adults in the absence of previous trauma, which were a particular type of marginal cartilaginous node. In the cases reported here, the computed tomographic scans suggested several mechanisms of formation of the vertebral lesion: a variant of marginal cartilaginous nodes; traumatic avulsion; avulsion related to disc herniation; and fusion of the avulsed bony fragment with the vertebral body.

Efficacy of transforaminal versus interspinous corticosteroid injectionin discal radiculalgia - a prospective, randomised, double-blind study.

A prospective, randomised, double-blind study was carried out to compare the respective efficacies of transforaminal and interspinous epidural corticosteroid injections in discal radiculalgia. Thirty-one patients (18 females, 13 males) with discal radicular pain of less than 3 months' duration were consecutively randomised to receive either radio-guided transforaminal or blindly performed interspinous epidural corticosteroid injections. Post-treatment outcome was evaluated clinically at 6 and 30 days, and then at 6 months, but only by mailed questionnaire. At day 6, the between-group difference was significantly in favour of the transforaminal group with respect to Schober's index, finger-to-floor distance, daily activities, and work and leisure activities on the Dallas pain scale. At day 30, pain relief was significantly better in the transforaminal group. At month 6, answers to the mailed questionnaire still showed significantly better results for transforaminal injection concerning pain, daily activities, work and leisure activities and anxiety and depression, with a decline in the Roland-Morris score. In recent discal radiculalgia, the efficacy of radio-guided transforaminal epidural corticosteroid injections was higher than that obtained with blindly-performed interspinous injections.

Tophaceous gout of the navicular bone as a cause of medial inflammatory tumor of the foot.

A case of tophaceous gout of the navicular bone in a 24-year-old woman is reported. Emphasis is placed on the conditions that might have been precipitating, i.e., anorexia nervosa and alcoholism, and the mechanisms by which increased uric acid level may be explained. The main radiographic patterns of tophaceous gout of the foot are recalled to avoid unnecessary surgery in future cases.

Primary Subcutaneous Abscess and Osteitis Caused by Nocardia asteroides.

We describe the case of a 84-year-old man with a subcutaneous abscess and osteitis of the lower limb caused by Nocardia asteroides. Attention is drawn to the infrequency of Nocardia asteroides cutaneous infection without previous pulmonary involvement. Moreover, sulfonamides were surprisingly not effective in this case, but pefloxacin was.

[Biomechanics of the connective tissue]. / Biomécanique du tissu conjonctif.

The authors discuss the collagen biomechanical properties. Firstly they recall the technical devices used in biomechanics and the mechanical data usually explored. Next, they review the mechanical properties of the various collagens found in tendons, joints, bone, vascular walls, skin and pulmonary alveoli.

[HLA-A, B, C, and DR typing in rheumatoid polyarthritis]. / Les typages HLA-A, B, C, DR dans la polyarthrite rhumatoïde.

HLA-A, B, C typing were performed in 72 caucasians with rheumatoid arthritis. HLA-DR typing were accomplished in 40 patients among these 72 subjects. DR4 was clearly increased with a frequency of 55 p. 100 versus 18 p. 100 in controls. We did not find an association between DR4 and the presence of rheumatoid factor. Clinical and biological signs are similar in rheumatoid arthritis with and without DR4. Two other HLA antigens, B40 and Cw3, were increased and their frequency was twice as high in patients as compared with controls. A synthesis of six studies published in the world confirms the elevation of B40 in this disease and later on suggests the elevation of Cw3 which is often linked with B40. The association of rheumatoid arthritis with B40 and Cw3 can be explained by a linkage disequilibrium between DR4 and B40 on the one hand, between DR4 and Cw3 on the other hand.

[Meningoencephalitis disclosing Behçet disease. Value of nuclear magnetic resonance imaging]. / Méningoencéphalite révélatrice d'une maladie de Behçet. Intérêt de l'imagerie par résonance magnétique nucléaire.

A meningoencephalitis Behçet's disease revealing is reported. Magnetic resonance imaging is more sensitive than computerized tomography in detecting encephalitic lesions. However, no specific pattern may be retained. This exploration is non invasive and can be used to monitor the evolution after treatment.