Quality of Life in Ecuadorian Patients With Rheumatoid Arthritis: A Cross-sectional Study. / Calidad de vida en pacientes ecuatorianos con artritis reumatoide: un estudio transversal.

OBJECTIVES: To evaluate health-related quality of life (HRQoL) and associated clinical, demographic and socioeconomic factors in a cohort of Ecuadorian patients with rheumatoid arthritis (RA). PATIENTS AND METHODS: A cross-sectional descriptive study evaluating (HRQoL) with the Spanish version of the Quality of Life Rheumatoid Arthritis (QoL-RA) instrument in patients diagnosed with RA according to the criteria of the American College of Rheumatology and the European League Against Rheumatism. In addition, the following data were obtained: age, sex, marital status, socioeconomic stratum, comorbidities, disease duration, medication, rheumatoid factor positivity, disease activity using the simplified disease activity index and physical functionality measured with the modified Health Assessment Questionnaire (MHAQ). RESULTS: A total of 163 patients were assessed, the mean score of the QoL-RA scale was 6.84±1.5 points. The highest measurements were obtained in the domains of interaction (8.04±1.9) and support (8.01±2). The factors that were associated with the overall quality of life assessment were: functionality measured with MHAQ (r=-0.70; P<.001); disease duration in years (r=-0.178; P<.05); and disease activity (mean difference of 1.5; 95%CI: 1.09 to 1.91). CONCLUSION: The patients evaluated had a good to moderate HRQoL. The domains related to support and social life were those with the highest scores and the lowest scores were related to pain and nervous tension. Functionality, duration, and disease activity were statistically associated with HRQoL.

Enfermedad relacionada con IgG4, según criterios ACR/EULAR 2019 sin evidencia de IgG4 en sangre / IgG4-related disease according to ACR/EULAR 2019 criteria without evidence of IgG4 in blood

INTRODUCCIÓN. La enfermedad relacionada con IgG4 es una patología fibroinflamatoria multiorgánica, de origen desconocido, que simula trastornos malignos, infecciosos e inflamatorios. Los criterios del American College of Rheumatology y la European League against Rheumatism 2019, son útiles para el diagnóstico diferencial de ésta enfermedad cuando se no se cuenta con evidencia de inmunoglobulina G4 en sangre. CASO CLÍNICO. Paciente hombre de 45 años de edad, nacido en Ambato-Ecuador, con ingreso en noviembre del 2017, en emergencias del Hospital de Especialidades Carlos Andrade Marín, con presencia de tos con hemoptisis leve, febrícula, astenia, pérdida de peso e hiporexia de dos semanas de evolución. Se realizó múltiples exámenes, tras observar infiltrados pulmonares intersticiales, con elevación de inmunoglobulina G en suero, negativas para malignidad; se sospechó de enfermedad relacionada a inmunoglobulina G4. Se ampliaron los estudios para descartar otras patologías más prevalentes y cuyo diferencial es primordial. Se inició tratamiento con prednisona y micofenolato con buena respuesta clínica; durante dos años. DISCUSIÓN. La evidencia científica registró que el hallazgo más importante en la enfermedad relacionada con inmunoglobulina G4 fue un aumento de sus niveles séricos. La recurrencia de la enfermedad en un órgano afectado o la aparición de un nuevo órgano involucrado pudo conducir al diagnóstico en el caso presentado. CONCLUSIÓN. La enfermedad relacionada con inmunoglobulina G4 al ser una patología heterogénea, inmunomediada, al simular otras afecciones puede retrasar el diagnóstico; se debe tener una alta sospecha clínica, si al excluir otros procesos infecciosos, autoinmunes y/o eoplásicos, hay evidencia de patología fibroesclerosante multiorgánica sin causa establecida.

INTRODUCTION. IgG4-related disease is a multiorgan fibroinflammatory pathology of unknown origin that mimics malignant, infectious, and inflammatory disorders. The criteria of the American College of Rheumatology and the European League against Rheumatism 2019 are useful for the differential diagnosis of this disease when there is no evidence of immunoglobulin G4 in blood. CLINICAL CASE. 45-year-old male patient, born in Ambato-Ecuador, with admission in November 2017, in the emergency room of the Hospital de Especialidades Carlos Andrade Marín, with the presence of cough with mild hemoptysis, fever, asthenia, weight loss and hyporexia of two weeks of evolution. Multiple tests were performed, after observing interstitial pulmonary infiltrates, with elevated serum immunoglobulin G, negative for malignancy; immunoglobulin G4-related disease was suspected. Studies were extended to rule out other more prevalent pathologies whose differential is paramount. Treatment with prednisone and mycophenolate was started with good clinical response; for two years. DISCUSSION. The scientific evidence recorded that the most important finding in immunoglobulin G4-related disease was an increase in its serum levels. Recurrence of the disease in an affected organ or the appearance of a new involved organ could have led to the diagnosis in the presented case. CONCLUSION. Immunoglobulin G4-related disease, being a heterogeneous, immune-mediated pathology, by simulating other conditions may delay diagnosis; a high clinical suspicion should be maintained if, when other infectious, autoimmune and/or neoplastic processes are excluded, there is evidence of multiorgan fibrosclerosing pathology without established cause.

Ocronosis: descripción de dos casos familiares, reseña histórica y revisión de la literatura / Ochronosis: report of two familial cases, historical overview and review of the literature

La ocronosis es la manifestación de la alcaptonuria en el tejido conjuntivo, se origina por la alteración en el metabolismo del ácido homogentísico, producto de la mutación autosómica recesiva del gen HGO, en el brazo largo del cromosoma 3 (3q21-23). Es una patología infrecuente, que se caracteriza por la presencia de calcificaciones de los discos intervertebrales y depósito de ácido homogentísico en el tejido conjuntivo y los tendones. Se presentan dos casos compatibles con las características clínicas y radiológicas de ocronosis.

Ochronosis is the manifestation of alkaptonuria in the connective tissue. It is originated by the alteration in the metabolism of homogentisic acid, a product of autosomal recessive mutation of HGO, gene in the long arm of chromosome 3 (3q21-23). It is a rare disease, characterized by the presence of calcifications in the intervertebral discs and deposit of homogentisic acid in connective tissue and tendons. We present two compatibles cases with the clinical and radiological features of ochronosis.