Denosumab versus zoledronic acid for patients with beta-thalassemia major-induced osteoporosis.

The main aim of this study is to compare the 2 medications denosumab and zoledronic acid for patients with beta-thalassemia major induced osteoporosis. Patients with B-thalassemia major induced osteoporosis will undergo baseline assessment of the bone densitometry by bone density(DEXA) scan as a standard of care by the radiology department, then a blood test for bone-specific alkaline phosphatase and type-1 collagen telopeptide will be measured by the chemistry laboratory.Patients with B-thalassemia major induced osteoporosis, who are 18 years of age or more and willing to participate in the study will be enrolled after consenting by the primary investigator in hematology outpatient clinics.

Pneumococcal Meningitis Complicated by Cerebral Vasculitis, Abscess, Hydrocephalus, and Hearing Loss.

Intracranial abscesses, postinfectious vasculitis, and hydrocephalus are rare complications of () meningitis, and to our knowledge, there have been no case reports where all these 3 complications occurred in a single patient with meningitis. Here, we report a case of a 48-year-old male who developed postinfectious vasculitis, abscess, hydrocephalus, and hearing loss after meningitis. Clinicians ought to be aware of the possible adverse outcomes of meningitis and the limitations of current treatment options.

Characteristics of patients with rheumatoid arthritis in Qatar: a cross-sectional study.

Objective: To describe the clinical characteristics, serologic, radiological and clinical disease activity, and modality of therapy in patients with rheumatoid arthritis (RA) at tertiary outpatient care in Qatar.

Methods: The study design was cross-sectional where 100 consecutive cases who met 1987 American College of Rheumatology criteria for diagnosis of RA were enrolled in this study. Demographic data (sex, nationality and age) numbers of swollen and tender joints, X-rays and current medications were collected during outpatients visits to Hamad General Hospital.

Chorea as the first and only manifestation of systemic lupus erythematosus.

We report a case of right-sided hemichorea associated with systemic lupus erythematosus (SLE) in a female patient who presented with involuntary movements of hand and foot, without any other manifestation of SLE. Further workup showed positive tests for antinuclear antibody, anti-Smith antibody, anti-dsDNA, and antiphospholipid antibody (aPL). The patient was started on aspirin and hydroxychloroquine and her chorea resolved after three weeks of followup.