Antihistone antibodies in linear scleroderma variants.

Background: Linear scleroderma occurs as two clinically distinct variants: the frontoparietal en coup de sabre type, and the torso-extremity type. Antihistone antibodies (AHAs), which traditionally are markers for drug-induced lupus, may also be linked to linear scleroderma.

Methods: Retrospective review of all patients presenting with linear scleroderma who had AHA titers measured.

Disabling pansclerotic morphea: clinical presentation in two adults.

Disabling pansclerotic morphea involves all layers of the skin, extending through the dermis and subcutaneous tissues to involve muscle, tendon, and bone. It is distinguished from generalized scleroderma by its lack of systemic involvement. Onset usually occurs before the age of 14 years.

Prognostic markers of radiographic progression in early rheumatoid arthritis.

Objective: To identify prognostic markers that are predictive of progressive erosive disease in patients with early rheumatoid arthritis (RA).

Methods: The study involved an inception cohort of 111 consecutive patients with RA and a disease duration of <1 year. Patients were treated according to an algorithm designed to avoid overtreatment of mild disease and to accelerate treatment in patients who had continuous disease activity.

Frequency of abnormal hand and wrist radiographs at time of diagnosis of polyarticular juvenile rheumatoid arthritis.

Objective: To determine the frequency of radiographic abnormalities in hand/wrist radiographs of children with newly diagnosed polyarticular juvenile rheumatoid arthritis (polyJRA) because radiographs of small joints are an important tool in assessing outcomes in RA and there are clinical similarities between RA and polyJRA.

Methods: A medical record review was performed to identify cases of polyJRA seen at Mayo Clinic from January 1, 1994, to December 31, 2001. Hand/wrist radiographs, obtained at the time of diagnosis, were reviewed by 3 radiologists with attention to periarticular osteopenia, joint space narrowing (JSN), or erosion.

Osteopenia in adults with a history of juvenile rheumatoid arthritis. A population based study.

Objective: To determine the extent of osteopenia in a population based cohort of adults with a history of juvenile rheumatoid arthritis (JRA).

Methods: The Rochester Epidemiology Project database was used to identify all cases of JRA diagnosed among Rochester, Minnesota residents under the age of 16 years between January 1, 1960, and December 31, 1993. Thirty-two of the 57 adult patients in this population based cohort (ages 19-53 years, mean 35) participated in this study.