[Lyme disease with hepatitis and corticosteroids: a case report]

INTRODUCTION

Abnormalities of liver function tests have been occasionally described in large series of Lyme disease, but only one case of hepatitis directly related to infection have been described in literature.

CASE REPORT

A 78-year-old-man, with a past medical history of polymyalgia rheumatica (PMR) who had discontinued corticosteroids two years before, presented a transient acute fever and liver cholestasis and cytolysis after an exposure to tick bites. A few days later, cervical pain occurred and corticosteroids were resumed as a PMR relapse was suspected. Hematogenous dissemination with acute meningoradiculitis and multiple erythema migrans led to conclude to a stage 2 Lyme disease.

CONCLUSION

Although hepatitis complicating the course of Lyme disease has been described in literature, the marked inflammation in our patient led us to investigate the possibility of a co-infection. Also, we discuss the responsibility of corticosteroids in clinical worsening of Lyme disease if they are prescribed without concomitant antibiotics.

Apolipoprotein A-I and platelet factor 4 are biomarkers for infliximab response in rheumatoid arthritis

OBJECTIVES

The use of biologicals such as infliximab has dramatically improved the treatment of rheumatoid arthritis (RA). However, factors predictive of therapeutic response need to be identified. A proteomic study was performed prior to infliximab therapy to identify a panel of candidate protein biomarkers of RA predictive of treatment response.

METHODS

Plasma profiles of 60 patients with RA (28 non-responders (as defined by the American College of Rheumatology 20% improvement criteria (ACR20)) negative and 32 responders (ACR70 positive) to infliximab) were studied by surface enhanced laser desorption/ionisation time-of-flight mass spectrometry (SELDI-TOF MS) technology on two types of arrays, an anion exchange array (SAX2) and a nickel affinity array (IMAC3-Ni). Biomarker characterisation was carried out using classical biochemical methods (purification by ammonium sulfate precipitation or metal affinity chromatography) and identification by matrix assisted laser desorption/ionisation time-of-flight (MALDI-TOF) MS analysis.

RESULTS

Two distinct protein profiles were observed on both arrays and several proteins were differentially expressed in both patient populations. Five proteins at 3.86, 7.77, 7.97, 8.14 and 74.07 kDa were overexpressed in the non-responder group, whereas one at 28 kDa was increased in the responder population (sensitivity>56%, specificity>77.5%). Moreover, combination of several biomarkers improved the sensitivity and specificity of the detection of patient response to over 97%. The 28 kDa protein was characterised as apolipoprotein A-I and the 7.77 kDa biomarker was identified as platelet factor 4.

CONCLUSIONS

Six plasma biomarkers are characterised, enabling the detection of patient response to infliximab with high sensitivity and specificity. Apolipoprotein A-1 was predictive of a good response to infliximab, whereas platelet factor 4 was associated with non-responders.

Modification des performances au Timed « Up and Go » test et à l'appui monopodal par l'addition d'une charge cognitive : valeur discriminative des résultats

OBJECTIVE

This study aimed to determine whether ordinary clinical performance on the timed "up-and-go" and one-leg-balance tests varied with additional cognitive tasks and the predictive value of this combination for future falls.

METHODOLOGY

The sample comprised 95 women with osteoporosis who lived independently in the community and were older than 70 years (mean 73.4+/-1.7 years) who were randomized to perform the timed "up-and-go" (TUG) and one-leg-balance (OLB) tests. The tests were performed with or without an additional cognitive task (math task involving subtraction by 2 s or 5 s or addition by 3 s).

RESULTS

For both TUG and OLB, performance decreased in the dual-task condition (P<0.05) but did not differ in older women with and without a history of falling, whatever the test, and with or without an additional cognitive load.

CONCLUSION

Performance on the TUG and OLB tests was less efficient when patients simultaneously performed a cognitive task. Performance on these tests, without or with cognitive tasks, did not predict falls in a sample of women who lived independently.

[Osteofluorosis caused by excess use of toothpaste]

BACKGROUND

Osteofluorosis is caused by chronic fluoride intoxication. Fluoride is used in toothpaste for the prevention of dental caries, and dental fluorosis has often been reported among children and attributed to ingestion of fluoride toothpaste. We report a case of chronic fluoride intoxication caused by excess use of toothpaste in an adult.

CASE

A 45-year-old woman consulted a rheumatologist for painful swelling of the fingers, phalangeal rather than articular. She also had brown staining on her teeth. Radiography of the hands showed periosteal apposition on the phalanges. Further work-up ruled out tumoral or thyroid causes. Laboratory tests showed elevated fluoride levels in the blood (50.9 micromol/L, normal<1.5 micromol/L) and in the urine (721 micromol/L, normal<46 micromol/L). On questioning, we found only one cause for chronic fluoride intoxication: excess and unusual use of toothpaste. The patient brushed her teeth 18 times a day and swallowed the toothpaste, because she liked the taste. She consumed a tube of toothpaste every 2 days, thereby swallowing 68.5 mg of fluoride every day. Suspecting fluorosis from toothpaste, we asked the patient to use a toothpaste without fluoride. Sixteen weeks later, the pain had ceased, and laboratory tests showed massively reduced but still elevated fluoride levels in the blood (6.9 micromol/L) and urine (92.7 micromol/L).

CONCLUSION

In this rare case of fluoride intoxication, misuse of a normally innocuous product caused osteofluorosis.

Prevalence of spondyloarthropathies in France: 2001

OBJECTIVE

To estimate the prevalence of spondyloarthropathies (SpAs) in France in a multiregional representative sample in the year 2001.

METHODS

A two stage random sample was constituted in seven areas from the national telephone directory and the next birthday method in each household. Interviewers were patient-members of self help groups trained to administer telephone surveys using a validated questionnaire for detecting inflammatory joint disease. Quality of data collection was controlled periodically. SpA was confirmed by the patient's rheumatologist or by clinical examination. Prevalence estimates after probability sampling correction were standardised for age and sex (1999 national census).

RESULTS

Among the 15 219 anonymous telephone numbers selected, 3.6% were places of work or secondary residences and were excluded. The phone interview participation rate ranged across regions from 55.1 to 69.9%. 3554 men and 5841 women were included in the study. Twenty nine cases of SpA were confirmed. All but one fulfilled ESSG criteria. Mean age was 47 years (range 21-78). The overall prevalence standardised for age and sex was 0.30% (95% confidence interval (CI) 0.17 to 0.46). Prevalence was similar in women (0.29% (95% CI 0.14 to 0.49)) and men (0.31 % (95% CI 0.12 to 0.60)). Geographical analysis by department clustering found no significant differences. The prevalence of SpA was as high as that of rheumatoid arthritis.

CONCLUSION

Prevalence of SpA in France was 0.30% in 2001, with no difference between women and men. Ankylosing spondylitis and psoriatic arthritis were the most common SpA subsets.

Prevalence of rheumatoid arthritis in France: 2001

BACKGROUND

Prevalence estimates of rheumatoid arthritis (RA) vary across Europe. Recent estimates in southern European countries showed a lower prevalence than in northern countries.

OBJECTIVES

To estimate the prevalence of RA in France in a multiregional representative sample in the year 2001.

METHODS

A two stage random sample was constituted in seven areas (20 counties) from the national telephone directory of households and by the next birthday method in each household. Patient-interviewers, member of self help groups, were trained to administer telephone surveys using a validated questionnaire for case detection of inflammatory rheumatism, and conducted the survey under quality control. All suspected cases of RA were confirmed by their rheumatologist or by clinical examination. Prevalence estimates after probability sampling correction were standardised for age and sex (national census 1999).

RESULTS

An average response rate of 64.7% (two stages combined) led to a total of 9395 respondents. Standardised prevalence was 0.31% (95% confidence interval 0.18 to 0.48) for RA, 0.51% in women and 0.09% in men, with a higher age-specific prevalence in the 65-74 year age band. A geographical analysis of county clustering showed significant variation across the country.

CONCLUSION

This national multiregional cooperative study demonstrates the usefulness of working in association with patients of self help groups. It showed a similar prevalence of RA to that of the spondyloarthropathies estimated concomitantly during the survey. It provides a reliable basis for definition of population targets for healthcare delivery and drug treatments.

Intervertebral disk degeneration and herniation: the role of metalloproteinases and cytokines

This article reviews the role of metabolic factors, including metalloproteinases and cytokines, in the occurrence of degenerative disk disease and disk herniation. Given that mechanical factors alone cannot cause disk degeneration, studies must explore metabolic, genetic, nutritional, and age-related factors. Zinc metalloproteinases exert particularly important effects, not only directly, but also indirectly through promotion of neovascularization. The production of these enzymes is dependent on a number of cytokines and on the cell changes they induce. This complex effect acts both on disk matrix degeneration and on the pain generated by contact between the protruding disk and the nerve roots. However, it can have a favorable effect by promoting resorption of the herniated disk. Available data on the role for mechanical factors on the disk chondrocyte metabolism and on metalloproteinase production show that mechanical and metabolic factors interact closely to produce disk disorders.

Bone metastases from a cerebral and sacral ependymoma. Report of a case

A case of cerebral and sacral ependymoma revealed by cerebellar syndrome and sciatica in a 68-year-old man is reported. Bone metastases were diagnosed seven months after surgical excision of the brain tumor.

Determinants of bone mass and bone geometry in adolescent and young adult women

Bone mass and bone geometry are considered to have independent effects on bone strength. The purpose of this study was to obtain data on bone mass and geometry in young female populations and how they are influenced by body size and lifestyle factors. In a cross-sectional, observational study in six European countries, 1116 healthy Caucasian girls aged 11-15 and 526 women aged 20-23 participated. Their radius was scanned at the ultradistal site and at a site approximately 30% of the radius length from the distal end with dual energy X-ray absorptiometry (DXA). The following parameters were assessed from the scans: bone mineral content (BMC), bone mineral density (BMD), cortical wall thickness (CWT), middistal diameter (D), cortical index (CI = 2CWT/D), and the Breaking Bending Resistance Index (BBRI = (D4 - [D-CWT]4)/D). Calcium intake was assessed by 3-day food records and physical activity by questionnaire. Body size parameters were measured by anthropometry. All parameters showed an increasing trend with pubertal stage and age, except for physical activity and calcium intake. BMC and BMD were relatively more dependent on body weight and age at menarche, whereas variation in D and the mechanical index BBRI was better explained by differences in height and grip strength. CI and CWT were relatively independent of variation in body size, whereas BMC and BBRI especially were explained for a substantial proportion (25-33% in the young adults) by body size parameters. Dietary intake of calcium and level of physical activity seem to contribute little to variation in bone parameters.

Rheumatic disorders developed after hepatitis B vaccination

OBJECTIVE

To obtain an overview of rheumatic disorders occurring after hepatitis B vaccination.

METHODS

A questionnaire was sent to rheumatology departments in nine French hospitals. Criteria for entry were rheumatic complaints of 1 week's duration or more, occurrence during the 2 months following hepatitis B vaccination, no previously diagnosed rheumatic disease and no other explanation for the complaints.

RESULTS

Twenty-two patients were included. The observed disorders were as follows: rheumatoid arthritis for six patients; exacerbation of a previously non-diagnosed systemic lupus erythematosus for two; post-vaccinal arthritis for five; polyarthralgia-myalgia for four; suspected or biopsy-proved vasculitis for three; miscellaneous for two.

CONCLUSIONS

Hepatitis B vaccine might be followed by various rheumatic conditions and might trigger the onset of underlying inflammatory or autoimmune rheumatic diseases. However, a causal relationship between hepatitis B vaccination and the observed rheumatic manifestations cannot be easily established. Further epidemiological studies are needed to establish whether hepatitis B vaccination is associated or not with an incidence of rheumatic disorders higher than normal.

SAPHO syndrome or psoriatic arthritis? A familial case study

OBJECTIVE

To discuss the relationships between SAPHO (synovitis, acne, pustulosis, hyperostosis and osteitis) syndrome and the group of spondylarthropathies.

METHODS

Few reports of familial SAPHO have been published. We describe three children, two sisters and one brother, whose clinical and radiological presentation was in accordance with SAPHO syndrome.

RESULTS

Two children developed psoriasis, and one child palmoplantar pustulosis. Both sacroiliac and sternoclavicular joints were involved in these three cases. Some features in our observations are also common to psoriatic arthritis. No association was found with HLA antigens, but a history of trauma preceding the onset of symptoms was present in all three children.

CONCLUSIONS

We can consider that SAPHO is nosologically related to spondylarthropathies. Psoriatic arthritis could be the missing link between SAPHO and spondylarthropathies. It is likely that both genetic and environmental factors are involved.

Dietary calcium and bone density in adolescent girls and young women in Europe

The objective of this study was to investigate the association between dietary calcium intake and radial bone density among young women, over the whole range of intake and at different levels of calcium intake. The study design was a cross-sectional, observational multicenter investigation in six European countries. One thousand one hundred and sixteen healthy Caucasian girls aged 11-15 years and 526 women aged 20-23 years participated, after having been selected from larger population samples to represent a large range in calcium intake. Bone mineral density (BMD) was measured with dual-energy X-ray absorptiometry at the ultradistal and middistal radius. Calcium intake was assessed with 3-day food records. Other potential determinants of BMD were measured by anthropometry or questionnaires. Mean calcium intake among the girls varied between 609 mg/day in Italy and 1267 mg/day in Finland; intakes for women were in a similar range. After adjustment for height, weight, and age at menarche for the women, and adjustment for age, height, weight, Tanner stage, and bone area for the girls, radial BMD at both sites did not significantly vary among quartiles of calcium intakes for both age groups. In multivariate linear regression, calcium was weakly positively associated with BMD at both sites in the girls (per 100 mg of calcium: beta = 0.57 mg/cm2, p = 0.03 for middistal BMD and beta = 0.56 mg/cm2, p = 0.01 for ultradistal BMD). For middistal BMD, the association was observed predominantly in pre-menarcheal girls. The associations were no longer statistically significant after full adjustment for all determinants of BMD, except again in pre-menarcheal girls. Radial BMD in the women was not associated with calcium intake, except after full adjustment for determinants of BMD, when ultradistal BMD became inversely associated with calcium intake (per 100 mg beta = -1.02, p = 0.03); this finding was due to results in one of the countries and not found in other countries. There was no evidence for a different relation between calcium and BMD at different levels of intake; although there was a positive association at calcium intake levels < 600 mg/day, the interaction was not significant and there was no consistent trend over intake categories. These results do not support the hypothesis that dietary calcium is a determinant of peak BMD in European women, for a wide range of intake. This study does not provide evidence that Recommended Dietary Allowances for calcium should be increased.

Bone metastases from a paraganglioma. A review of five cases

Paragangliomas are infrequent, usually benign tumors developed from neuroectoderm cells. The neck is the most common location, although some cases arise within the abdominal cavity, usually in the retroperitoneal space. We report five cases with bone metastases. In three patients, convincing evidence was obtained that the primary was in the retroperitoneal space. Clinical manifestations of metastatic bone disease occurred up to 17 years after the diagnosis of paraganglioma. Useful data were obtained from plain radiographs, magnetic resonance imaging, serum and urine catecholamine assays, and above all meta 123iodobenzylguanidine scintigraphy. Histologic and immunohistochemical studies of the lesion yielded the definite diagnosis. Surgery and radiation therapy are the two mainstays of therapy. Although rare, metastatic forms of paraganglioma should be borne in mind. This diagnosis should be entertained in patients with bone lesions and recent-onset arterial hypertension, irrespective of whether they report a history of surgery for a tumor, and even if this tumor was removed many years earlier and labeled benign.

A randomized, double blind, placebo controlled multicenter trial of murine anti-CD4 monoclonal antibody therapy in rheumatoid arthritis

OBJECTIVE

To assess safety and efficacy of a murine anti-CD4 monoclonal antibody (Mab) in a population of patients with rheumatoid arthritis (RA) compared to treatment with placebo.

METHODS

Fifty-eight patients with defined RA were included in this placebo controlled, randomized, double blind, multicenter study. Of the 48 women and 10 men (mean age 54.5 years), 25 were functional class II and 31 were class III, with 9 years' disease duration; the mean of previous disease modifying antirheumatic drugs was 4; 49 were taking steroids (mean dosage 11 mg/day of prednisone). Eighty percent were rheumatoid factor positive. All were in an active state of the disease with: pain > 4 (mean at inclusion 6.6), tender joints > 4 (mean 12), swollen joint count > 3 (mean 9), morning stiffness > 45 min (mean 185), erythrocyte sedimentation rate > 30 mm (mean 59) or C-reactive protein (CRP) > 30 mg/l (mean 63). Treatment was randomized between murine anti-CD4 Mab (B-F5, Diaclone, 20 mg/day) or placebo intravenously for 10 consecutive days. Efficacy was assessed with a composite index (Paulus), with evaluation of number of patients with 20 or 50% improvement in each group. Changes in measures of single clinical or biological variables were also evaluated.

RESULTS

The 2 groups were comparable at inclusion. Treatment was well tolerated. Mild side effects (chills, fever, rash) were seen in both groups. Percentage of patients with global 20 or 50% response did not differ between placebo and Mab groups at Day 10 or at Day 30. Evaluation of single variables showed reduced CRP, swollen joint count, and Ritchie index in some B-F5 patients at Day 10, although in the B-F5 group as a whole only CRP was significant.

CONCLUSION

No significant improvement in RA after murine anti-CD4 Mab was observed.

Femoral neuralgia due to degenerative spinal disease. A retrospective clinical and radio-anatomical study of one hundred cases

We report a study of 100 patients admitted to the Grenoble Regional Teaching Hospital between July 1985 and February 1994 for femoral neuralgia due to degenerative spinal disease. A herniated disk resulting in nerve root impingement was found in 79 patients (83 herniated disks) and lumbar spinal stenosis in 21. The level of nerve root compromise was L2-L3 in eight cases, L3-L4 in 35 cases, and L4-L5 in 40 cases. Herniated disks were divided into several groups based on their location with regard to the intervertebral foramen: posterolateral herniations were entirely contained within the spinal canal (n = 12; 14.5%), whereas far lateral, or foraminal, herniations (n = 71; 85.5%) involved the intervertebral foramen. Twenty-nine foraminal herniations (34.9%) had a component located within the spinal canal (medioforaminal herniations), 33 (39.8%) were entirely contained within the foramen (pure foraminal herniations), and nine (10.8%) were located lateral to the foramen (lateroforaminal herniations). As compared with posterolateral herniations, foraminal herniations were associated with shorter symptom duration at admission (p < 0.05), a greater likelihood of nocturnal exacerbation of pain (p < 0.001) and of a positive femoral stretch test (p < 0.01), and failure of the pain to worsen during Valsalva maneuvers (p < 0.01).

[Osteo-medullary metastases from cerebral glioblastoma]

A 55 year old female with a history of three different malignancies including a cerebral glioblastoma developed two bone metastases (in the spine and iliac crest). Histologic and immunohistochemical studies of biopsy specimens demonstrated the presence of glial fibrillary acidic protein, establishing that the bone tumors were metastases from the glioblastoma. Specific features of these rare metastases are discussed.

[Tibial hyperostosis and Propionibacterium acnes]

In a 39-year-old patient with tibial productive osteitis, Propionibacterium acnes was identified in a surgical specimen of the bone lesion. Similar cases have been reported by others. The possibility that P. acnes may play in a pathogenic role in the SAPHO syndrome by causing inflammatory or infectious changes is discussed.

Skeletal involvement as the initial disease manifestation in Hodgkin's disease: a review of 6 cases

Initial signs of malignant lymphoma are rarely due to bone lesions. We reviewed 6 cases with early skeletal involvement, recently observed in the rheumatology and hematology departments. In 3 patients, magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) was added to traditional investigations, including radiography, radionuclide bone scan and computerized tomography. We stress the possibility of bone involvement in the clinical onset of malignant lymphoma and the usefulness of early bone assessment using MRI.

[Arthropathy of the fingers in hemodialyzed patients with chronic renal failure. Apropos of a study of 44 patients]

Arthropathy affecting the small joints of the hand are one of the osteo-articular complications of chronic renal failure treated by hemodialysis. Amongst the 44 patients studied, there were 9 cases of arthropathy of the fingers. The clinical characteristics (age, duration of hemodialysis) and paraclinical characteristics (oxygenated free radical activity indicators, serum levels of aluminium and beta-2-microglobulins) appear to be specific to this population and may help us to understand the pathogenesis of the joint lesions.

An automatic method for bone histomorphometry: assessment with reference to usual static and dynamic parameters

To perform a fast and reproducible analysis in bone histomorphometry, we developed an automatic method for calculating static and dynamic parameters. A color automatic image analyzer (SAMBA 200) was used to obtain the usual parameters of bone histomorphometry: bone volume (Cn-BV%TV), osteoid volume (Cn-OV%BV), and osteoid surface (Cn-OS%BS). A specialized algorithm was designed for calculation of the mineral apposition rate (MAR). Eroded surface (Cn-ES%BS) was read in a semiautomatic mode using a cursor. To validate this program, we input 30 samples from patients with bone disease (20 osteoporosis, 6 renal osteodystrophy, 2 osteomalacia, and 2 hyperparathyroidism) using manual and automatic modes. The results obtained showed a highly significant correlation with the usual manual method for all parameters: OS/BS, r = 0.93; OV/BV, r = 0.98; MAR, r = 0.90. With the automatic method, larger values were found for osteoid parameters and MAR and lower values for BV/TV. There were no statistical differences for OV/BV and MAR when compared to the reference manual method. This study establishes that automatic measurements of osteoid parameters and MAR can be performed by a fast analyzer with as good reproducibility and accuracy as the manual method.

[Aseptic osteonecrosis of the femur head and pregnancy. Apropos of 2 cases with MRI study]

Two further cases of aseptic osteonecrosis of femoral head during pregnancy are reported, and the literature reviewed of this rare etiology of debatable etiopathogenicity. The value of MR imaging is demonstrated both for early positive diagnosis and for the differential diagnosis from decalcifying algodystrophy.

[Periungual capillaroscopy in rheumatoid arthritis. Prospective study of 80 cases]

This study involved the screening for dermal microcirculatory abnormalities using periungueal capillaroscopy in a group of 80 cases of rheumatoid arthritis, so-defined in terms of ARA criteria. Excessive erythrocyte aggregation and/or pericapillary edema were detected in 74% of cases and were statistically correlated with ESR, reflecting an inflammatory syndrome. Capillary neogenesis, probably in reaction to subclinical cutaneous vascularity, was detected in 59% of cases (86% of subjects presenting extra-articular rheumatism). In 28% of cases this was accompanied by spontaneous hemorrhage, suggesting a progressive condition. Stigmata of cutaneous atrophy were present in 54% of subjects. These findings demonstrate the frequency of subclinical cutaneous damage in rheumatoid disease and suggest the possibility of the clinical usefulness of capillaroscopy, a non-invasive technic, in the follow-up of this disease.