Predictors of efficacy of ultrasound-guided intra-articular glucocorticoid injection in knee osteoarthritis: A prospective study.

Background: Intra-articular glucocorticoid injection (IAGI) is widely used for treatment of knee osteoarthritis (OA) flares. Response rates are generally around 70%. Several studies have tried to identify predictors of good response, but response to ultrasound (US)-guided injection has not yet been investigated.

Autoantibody profile in a cohort of Algerian patients with systemic sclerosis.

Aim: To describe the autoantibody profile in a cohort of Algerian patients with systemic sclerosis (SSc) and to determine clinical associations between SSc-related autoantibodies, disease subtypes and specific clinical features.

Methods: Consecutive Algerian patients with SSc were included in the present study. In addition to clinical characterization, all subjects underwent autoantibody testing using indirect immunofluorescence, immunoenzymatic, and line immunoblot assays.

Ankylosing spondylitis: analysis of gene-gene interactions between β, , and in Han Chinese and Algerian cohorts.

Introduction: Association studies have recently identified the importance of new genetic variants for ankylosing spondylitis (AS) in several populations. Our aim was to confirm associations of variants within genes involved in the IL-23 signalling pathway with AS in two ethnically different populations: Han Chinese and Algerian.

Material And Methods: Two case-control studies were performed in separate cohorts: Han Chinese (430 AS patients and 580 controls) and Algerian (130 AS patients and 120 controls).

The Prevalence of Non-radiographic Axial Spondyloarthritis Among Patients with Inflammatory Back Pain from Northwest and South Africa: Data from a Noninterventional, Cross-Sectional Study.

Introduction: Information is limited on the prevalence and clinical characteristics of nonradiographic axial spondyloarthritis (nr-axSpA) among patients with inflammatory back pain (IBP) in African countries. A global study estimated the prevalence of nr-axSpA among patients with IBP from 19 countries in Latin America, Europe, Asia, and Africa. This post hoc subset analysis focused on estimating prevalence of nr-axSpA and clinical characteristics among patients with IBP from Northwest Africa (Morocco and Algeria) and South Africa.

Prevalence of metabolic syndrome in Algerian rheumatoid arthritis patients. Correlation with disease activity and functional status.

Background: There is evidence that rheumatoid arthritis (RA) patients have an over-risk of cardiovascular disease. This may be mainly due to an increase in the prevalence of metabolic syndrome (MetS). The prevalence of MetS among adults in Algeria is 19.

Ex vivo all-trans retinoic acid modulates NO production and regulates IL-6 effect during rheumatoid arthritis: a study in Algerian patients.

Rheumatoid arthritis (RA) is a chronic autoimmune disease. The pathophysiology of RA implicates several mediators such as nitric oxide (NO) and cytokines such as interleukin-6 (IL-6), which is deeply involved in the main characteristics of RA. Furthermore, all-trans retinoic acid (ATRA) is an active vitamin A derivative well-known to have diverse immunomodulatory actions.

Successful treatment of Acrodermatitis continua of Hallopeau associated with psoriatic arthritis with adalimumab.

Acrodermatitis continua of Hallopeau (ACH) is a rare form of pustular psoriasis, mainly affecting distal phalanges of hands and feet. Many therapeutic options exist; however, it tends to be resistant to treatment. We report a 26-year-old man presented with a very severe psoriatic arthritis associated with ACH.

Characteristics of rheumatoid arthritis in Algeria: a multicenter study.

The aim of this study was to compare the epidemiology of rheumatoid arthritis (RA) in North Africa to that of Western countries. We have enrolled in a cross-sectional study all consecutive patients presenting with the diagnosis of RA according to the 1987 ACR criteria, and during a 5-month period, patients were included in 11 centers across northern Algeria. Demographics, clinical data, and health assessment questionnaires (HAQ) were collected for each patient.

Association study of human leukocyte antigen-DRB1 alleles with rheumatoid arthritis in Algerian patients.

Introduction: Rheumatoid arthritis (RA) is a chronic, systemic, inflammatory and multifactorial disease. Genetic predisposition seems to play an important role. The aim of this study is to explore the relationship between human leukocyte antigen (HLA)-DRB1 alleles and susceptibility, clinical and biological features of RA in an Algerian patient population.

The practical value of biologics registries in Africa and Middle East: challenges and opportunities.

Biologics, including tumor necrosis factor (TNF) inhibitors, are increasingly used for the treatment of inflammatory conditions such as rheumatoid arthritis (RA), psoriatic arthritis, and ankylosing spondylitis. The efficacy of these drugs has been demonstrated in randomized controlled trials (RCTs). However, these studies are conducted in controlled environments, and the results may not necessarily reflect clinical outcomes in daily clinical practice.

Juvenile hyaline fibromatosis: focus on radiographic features in adulthood.

Juvenile hyaline fibromatosis (JHF) is a rare autosomal recessive hereditary disorder (less than 80 cases reported), characterized by multiple nodular lesions on the skin and musculoskeletal involvement, very debilitating because most adolescents and adults become bedridden. Only 10 cases have been reported on JHF in adulthood. We report the case of a 34-year-old male patient in whom clinical and histological findings were consistent with a mild JHF and focus on the radiographic features.

Complete resolution of universal calcinosis in a patient with juvenile dermatomyositis using pamidronate.

A 14-year-old girl with juvenile dermatomyositis developed extensive and debilitating calcinosis, unresponsive to colchicine, while muscle involvement subsided. Pamidronate (2mg/kg/year) produced dramatic improvement of pain and function within 2 months and calcinosis had completely resolved by 2 years. No new calcifications have been noted with a 5-year follow-up.

Ochronotic rheumatism in Algeria: clinical, radiological, biological and molecular studies--a case study of 14 patients in 11 families.

Objectives: To confirm alkaptonuria and ochronotic arthropathy diagnosis by mutation screening of the homogentisate 1,2-dioxygenase (HGD) gene. Try to establish a genotype-phenotype correlation in the five subjects with a molecular study on HGD gene.

Methods: We report 14 alkaptonuria cases (10 men and four women) in 11 Algerian families.