Multicentric Castleman Disease: A Case Report of an Arab Female.

We report the case of a 74-year-old female, who presented with a two-month history of fever, night sweats, and lymphadenopathy. She was thoroughly investigated, with high clinical suspicion for lymphoma. However, lymph node biopsy results revealed histopathological features of a hyaline vascular variant of Castleman disease.

Comprehensive description of the prevalence, serological and clinical characteristics, and visceral involvement of systemic sclerosis (scleroderma) in a large cohort from the United Arab Emirates Systemic Sclerosis Registry.

Systemic sclerosis is an autoimmune condition characterized by a wide range of clinical presentations. Registries may serve to expand understanding about systemic sclerosis and aid in patient care and follow-up. The objective of this study was to analyze the prevalence of systemic sclerosis in a large cohort from the United Arab Emirates Systemic Sclerosis Registry and find the significant similarities and differences between the different subsets.

Ultrasound to identify systemic lupus erythematosus patients with musculoskeletal symptoms who respond best to therapy: the US Evaluation For mUsculoskeletal Lupus longitudinal multicentre study.

Objectives: To determine whether SLE patients with inflammatory joint symptoms and US synovitis/tenosyovitis achieve better clinical responses to glucocorticoids compared with patients with normal scans. Secondary objectives included identification of clinical features predicting US synovitis/tenosynovitis.

Methods: In a longitudinal multicentre study, SLE patients with physician-diagnosed inflammatory joint pain received intramuscular methylprednisolone 120 mg once.

Responsiveness of clinical and ultrasound outcome measures in musculoskeletal systemic lupus erythematosus.

Objective: To assess the responsiveness of clinical outcome measures in musculoskeletal SLE compared with US.

Methods: A prospective pilot study was conducted in consecutive SLE patients with inflammatory musculoskeletal symptoms. Clinical assessments including SLEDAI, BILAG, 28 tender and swollen joint counts, physician and patient visual analogue scales (VAS), and US were performed at 0, 2 and 4 weeks following 120 mg i.

Prediction of autoimmune connective tissue disease in an at-risk cohort: prognostic value of a novel two-score system for interferon status.

Objective: To evaluate clinical, interferon and imaging predictors of progression from 'At Risk' to autoimmune connective tissue diseases (AI-CTDs).

Methods: A prospective observational study was conducted in At-Risk of AI-CTD (defined as antinuclear antibody (ANA) positive; ≤1 clinical systemic lupus erythematosus (SLE) criterion; symptom duration <12 months and treatment-naïve). Bloods and skin biopsy (non-lesional) were analysed for two interferon-stimulated gene expression scores previously described (IFN-Score-A and IFN-Score-B).

The role of ultrasound in assessing musculoskeletal symptoms of systemic lupus erythematosus: a systematic literature review.

Objectives: Musculoskeletal symptoms are common in SLE and are associated with significant morbidity. However, assessing their nature can be challenging, with implications for treatment decisions and measuring response. US has been shown to be valid and reliable for the assessment of other inflammatory arthritides, but data in SLE are more limited.

The specificity of ultrasound-detected bone erosions for rheumatoid arthritis.

Background: Bone erosion is one of the hallmarks of rheumatoid arthritis (RA), but also seen in other rheumatic diseases. The objective of this study was to determine the specificity of ultrasound (US)-detected bone erosions (including their size) in the classical 'target' joints for RA.

Methods: Patients fulfilling the diagnostic criteria for RA, psoriatic arthritis, osteoarthritis or gout in addition to healthy volunteers were included.

Renal cell carcinoma-associated adult dermatomyositis treated laparoscopic nephrectomy.

A 77-year-old female, who suffered from rheumatoid arthritis and hypothyroidism, developed severe muscle weakness. Clinical features, blood results and muscle biopsy suggested a possible diagnosis of dermatomyositis. A computed tomography of the chest, abdomen and pelvis showed a solid mass in the left kidney.

Does joint position affect US findings in inflammatory arthritis?

Objective: Musculoskeletal US is being increasingly used for the assessment of synovitis, although questions remain about its reliability. One potential factor affecting reliability is the lack of consensus of image acquisition methods such as using different joint positions. This may have an implication on the reproducibility of studies that use US as an outcome measure.

Do non-steroidal anti-inflammatory drugs have a significant effect on detection and grading of ultrasound-detected synovitis in patients with rheumatoid arthritis? Results from a randomised study.

Objectives: To determine whether non-steroidal anti-inflammatory drugs (NSAIDs) have a significant effect on ultrasonographic (US) grey scale (GS) and power Doppler (PD) assessment of synovitis in rheumatoid arthritis (RA).

Methods: Patients with RA taking NSAIDs were randomised to either stopping (for a minimum of 5 drug half-lives) or continuing the drug. All patients had a clinical assessment and US examination of both hands and wrists before and after stopping/continuing the NSAID.