The Trends of DMARDS prescribed in Rheumatoid Arthritis Patients in Malaysia.

Objectives: To evaluate the trends of disease-modifying anti-rheumatic drugs (DMARDs) used in the treatment of rheumatoid arthritis (RA).

Methods: Patients who fulfilled the ACR criteria for RA from 1995 to 2006 and who attended the Rheumatology clinic at Ipoh Hospital were selected and their records were evaluated to determine the changing trends in the use of DMARDs.

Results: 128 patients with RA were identified.

The prevalence of bronchopulmonary infection among patients with rheumatoid arthritis versus non rheumatoid arthritis patients.

A high frequency of bronchopulmonary infections complicating rheumatoid arthritis has been described in reports of case series. This study was undertaken to confirm and compare these finding in patients with RA and control. 117 patients with RA and 103 patients with OA/soft tissue rheumatism as controls.

The effect of disease activity on fat-free mass and resting energy expenditure in patients with rheumatoid arthritis versus noninflammatory arthropathies/soft tissue rheumatism.

Rheumatoid arthritis (RA) is a chronic joint disease of undetermined cause that is associated with significant disability. Low-grade fever, anemia, and weight loss are recognized extra-articular features associated with increased disease activity. Weight loss and cachexia are well-established features of RA.

Awareness and perceptions of fibromyalgia syndrome: a survey of southeast asian rheumatologists.

Background: Fibromyalgia syndrome (FMS) is a common but controversial condition. There appears to be different level of belief of its existence and awareness. We set out to explore the variations of perceptions and awareness of this condition among rheumatologists from the Southeast Asia (SEA) region.