Multidisciplinary day hospital treatment of rheumatoid arthritis patients. Evaluation after two years

The availability of multidisciplinary care for rheumatoid arthritis is still limited. The Raoul Dufy Program offered by the Saint-Antoine Teaching Hospital in Paris provides one-on-one personalized care in a day hospital setting as an adjunct to conventional medical follow-up. Listening and providing information and education are major objectives of the nurse, rheumatologist and physical therapist participating in the program. The team also includes a social worker, a surgeon, a dietician, a podiatrist and a psychologist, who intervene as needed. Seventy patients attended the program between December 1993 and September 1995 and were asked to complete a baseline and a three-month questionnaire designed to evaluate the effects of the program in terms of new therapeutic interventions, patient knowledge and quality of life. The patient knowledge score increased significantly (P < 0.0001). Many therapeutic interventions were initiated after program attendance, especially in the fields of podiatry, psychology and physical therapy. However, the quality of life score failed to improve. These results and the substantial patient demand for appointments are encouraging. Further work is needed on the methodology of multidisciplinary care evaluation. Coping strategy evaluation tools may allow to identify some of the specific benefits provided by the multidisciplinary approach.

[Destructive arthritis of the hip in Crohn disease. 10 cases]

OBJECTIVES

Destructive arthritis of the hip joint is a rare manifestation of Crohn's disease. We evaluated its frequency and clinical features in comparison with spondylarthritis and assessed the clinical course.

METHODS

One hundred patients with Crohn's disease were followed prospectively in search of destructive arthritis of the hip joint. Patients with both Crohn's disease and manifestations of inflammatory joint disease hospitalized in three rheumatology units were also evaluated retrospectively.

RESULTS

The prevalence of destructive hip disease was 2% in patients with Crohn's disease. Ten patients had destructive arthritis of the hip. Three had ankylosing spondylitis, 5 had spondylarthritis not responding to the criteria of ankylosing spondylitis and 2 had no axial joint disease. In all patients, signs of hip joint disease were a narrowed intra-articular space, bone condensation, osteophytosis and features of joint destruction. Manifestations were similar to those in patients with hip joint disease related to idiopathic ankylosing spondylarthritis. The clinical course was poorly controlled by anti-inflammatory drugs or treatment of the inflammatory bowel disease. Synoviorthesis were required and were effective in most cases. Total hip replacement was required in 3 cases.

CONCLUSION

Destructive arthritis of the hip in patients with Crohn's disease is a rare complication causing severe functional impairment further handicapping the patient with a chronic bowel disease.

[Present status of Poncet's tuberculous rheumatism. A new case]

A case of noninfectious polyarthritis of over one year's duration with calcaneal enthesopathy in a patient with visceral tuberculosis is reported. This pattern, termed Poncet's disease, shares pathophysiologic mechanisms with Freund's complete adjuvant-induced arthritis. Future studies should include polymerase chain reaction studies to look for the tubercle bacillus in joint fluid or synovial biopsy specimens.

Cutaneous vasculitis and IgA glomerulonephritis in ankylosing spondylitis

Two patients with ankylosing spondylitis were found to have IgA nephropathy and leucocytoclastic cutaneous vasculitis. Immunofluorescence showed perivascular deposition of IgA in the skin of one patient and in the mesangium of both patients. Such an association has been reported only once before. This supports the concept of abnormal IgA immune stimulation in the pathogenesis of ankylosing spondylitis.

Early diagnosis of vertebral osteomyelitis due to a rare pathogen: Haemophilus parainfluenzae

Bone and joint infections due to Haemophilus parainfluenzae are unusual. We describe a case of hematogenous vertebral osteomyelitis caused by this commensal microorganism of nose and oropharynx. Early diagnosis and therapy were possible within a week using sensitive radiologic methods: technetium bone scanning, computed tomography and magnetic resonance imaging.