Evaluating Posterior Cruciate Ligament Integrity in Inflammatory Arthritis Patients Prescribed Biologic Agents: A Radiological Case-Control Study.

Introduction Patients with inflammatory arthropathies present a significant challenge to the arthroplasty surgeon when they present with symptomatic degenerative changes of their knee joint. Debate is ongoing regarding the selection of implants for this cohort of patients. There is conflicting evidence for the use of posterior-stabilising (PS) over cruciate-retaining (CR) designs in this cohort.

The prevalence of vertebral fracture on vertebral fracture assessment imaging in a large cohort of patients with rheumatoid arthritis.

Objective: RA accelerates bone loss, increasing the risk of osteoporosis (OP) and fracture. DXA imaging has been validated for identifying RA patients at risk of fracture. The objective of this study was to assess the presence of asymptomatic vertebral fractures (VFs) in a cohort of patients with established RA referred for DXA using VF assessment (VFA) technology.

Vertebral fracture assessment-detected abdominal aortic calcification and cardiovascular disease in rheumatoid arthritis.

Objective: Individuals with rheumatoid arthritis (RA) are at increased risk for cardiovascular disease (CVD). Traditional prediction tools underestimate this risk. Vertebral fracture assessment (VFA)-detected aortic calcification enhances CVD risk stratification in the general population but its relationship in RA is unclear.

The prevalence of aortic calcification on vertebral fracture assessment imaging among patients with rheumatoid arthritis.

Patients with rheumatoid arthritis (RA) are at increased risk of osteoporosis (OP) and cardiovascular disease (CVD). Dual-energy X-ray absorptiometry scans have been validated for identifying patients with RA at risk for fracture. Reliable CVD risk stratification remains an unmet need in this population.

High prevalence of fibromyalgia in patients with HFE-related hereditary hemochromatosis.

Objectives: Subjects with HFE-related hereditary hemochromatosis (HH) may present with arthralgias, fatigue, and stiffness, yet little is known on the presence of fibromyalgia syndrome (FMS) in these subjects. We determined the prevalence of FMS in a cohort of subjects with HH and evaluated its relationship to subject demographics, disease status, and quality of life.

Methods: In a cross-sectional study we collected data on 395 consecutive subjects diagnosed with HH who were attending a tertiary referral Hepatology outpatient clinic at Galway University Hospital, Ireland (between October 2009 and June 2010).

Prevalence of fibromyalgia among patients with chronic hepatitis C infection: relationship to viral characteristics and quality of life.

Objectives: We determined the prevalence of fibromyalgia syndrome (FMS) in a cohort of subjects with chronic hepatitis C virus (HCV), and the relationship to subject demographics, viral characteristics, and quality of life.

Methods: In a cross-sectional study of a cohort of HCV-infected individuals, all subjects underwent a standard assessment including history, clinical examination, and functional assessments for pain and disability.

Results: A total of 185 subjects met the inclusion criteria.

Meticillin-sensitive Staphylococcus aureus costochondritis in a healthy man.

Background: A 54-year-old previously healthy white man presented to hospital with fever, right parasternal pain and swelling over the right second and third costochondral joints. The symptoms had developed 1 week earlier.

Investigations: Physical examination, white blood cell count, erythrocyte sedimentation rate, C-reactive protein level, blood and urine culture, plain radiography and CT of the chest, (99m)Tc bone scintigraphy, ultrasound-guided needle aspiration of soft tissue mass, Gram staining and culture of aspirated fluid.

High incidence of osteoporosis and fractures in an aging post-polio population.

Background/aims: Since the polio epidemic in Ireland in the 1950s, most polio survivors are approaching into the 6th and 7th decade of their lives. There is little data about bone density and risk of fractures in these patients. In 2006, we undertook an audit of post-polio patients attending rheumatology and neurology outpatient clinics in a university teaching hospital.