The scope of rheumatology.

The Immunological Basis in the Pathogenesis of Gout

Tuberculosis and opportunistic infections: relevance to biologic agents.

With the expanding use of biologic agents, in particular TNF inhibitors, tuberculosis and other opportunistic infections have become an important and growing concern in rheumatology. Clinicians using these therapies should have an understanding of the scope of the problem, the underlying scientific rationale, as well as the optimal approaches to screening, monitoring and treatment.

Pulmonary nodules in a patient with rheumatoid arthritis: Which diagnostic approach is the most appropiate?

Background: Pulmonary nodular excavation should firstly evoke tuberculosis or necrosis broncho-pulmonary tumor, particularly: epidermoid carcinoma. The case discussed here illustrated these difficulties in patients with rheumatoid arthritis (RA). Case Presentation: A 63-year-old woman was presented with a-three-year history of RA and a recent discovery of an excavated pulmonary nodule. Initi...

Reparative radiological changes of hip joint after TNF inhibitors in ankylosing spondylitis

Background: Hip involvement in ankylosing spondylitis (AS) is a common extraspinal arthritic manifestation, which is associated to a worse functional outcome. Little data are available on the effectiveness of conservative treatment strategies. The TNF inhibitors have been proven effective on AS activity parameters. Their structural effect on hip disease however, little is studied. Case pres...

BSR and BHPR guidelines for the management of polymyalgia rheumatica.

PMR is the most common inflammatory rheumatic disease in the elderly and is one of the biggest indications for long-term steroid therapy. There are difficulties in diagnosis, with heterogeneity in presentation, response to steroids and disease course. The aim of these guidelines is a safe and specific diagnostic process for PMR, using continued assessment, and discouragement of hasty initial tr...