Publications by authors named "Bejia I"
Objectives: To evaluate survival after osteoporotic fractures of the upper femur and determine its associated factors.
Methods: Cross-sectional study of patients hospitalized for fractures of the upper end of the femur during 2020 at Monastir University Hospital. Outcome was determined up to 2 years.
Aims: To analyse the prescription of biologics (bDMARDs) in chronic inflammatory rheumatic diseases (CIRD) from Tunisian National Health Insurance (CNAM) data and to estimate their direct costs and associated factors.
Methods: One hundred and nine consecutive patients who received at least one bDMARDs during a six-month period from January to June 2022 were analysed. Clinical and therapeutic parameters as well as data related to the choice of bDMARDs were identified.
Electroencephalography's (EEG) sensitivity in discriminating dementia syndromes remains unclear. This study aimed to investigate EEG markers in patients with major cognitive disorders. The studied population included 4 groups of patients: Alzheimer's disease with associated vascular lesions, Alzheimer's disease without vascular lesions (AD-V), Lewy body disease and vascular dementia (VaD); and completed by a control group composed by cognitively unimpaired patients.
View Article and Find Full Text PDFBackground: Cervical spine (CS) involvement is common during rheumatoid arthritis (RA) and it is distinguished by its potential gravity.
Aim: To determinate the occurrence of atlantoaxial subluxation (AAS) by dynamic incidences X-Ray and to assess its predictive factors.
Methods: Our study included a cohort of 40 patients carrying RA, who fulfilled the American College of Rheumatology criteria, for more than 2 years.
Background: Outcome in multiple myeloma (MM) is very heterogeneous in survival and therapeutic response, constantly fatale despite her therapy progress.
Aim: To determine the prognostic factors and survival in MM.
Methods: We carried out a transversal study of 100 patients in the rheumatology department of hospital Monastir between 1991 and 2010.
Background: Currently, for the diagnosis of osteoporosis, we search risk factors and measure bone mineral density (BMD) by DXA method. However, bone turnover markers, unused still in practice, have shown an interest especially in the prediction of fracture risk. aim: To determine the relationship between bone markers, BMD and osteoporotic fracture.
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- The study examines the prevalence of diagnostic discordance in osteoporosis, where patients have different T-scores at the spine and hip, possibly indicating differing severity of the condition.
- Out of 1780 patients, 49.4% showed concordance in T-scores, while 45.7% had minor discordance and 4.8% had major discordance, with lumbar spine readings generally lower than hip readings.
- Menopause was identified as a significant risk factor for T-score discordance, while other factors like age, gender, and medical history did not show a strong association.
Background: Bone loss in celiac disease (CD) is important and is associated to increased risk of fractures. The determining factors of this Bone loss and the osteoporosis fracture during this disease remain still unknown. The bone remodeling parameters seem to play it an important role.
View Article and Find Full Text PDFThis study aims to assess the prevalence of dyslipidaemia in Tunisian patients with active RA and to investigate the clinical and biological associated factors. A cross-sectional study was conducted on 92 unselected patients with active RA (77 females and 15 males, aged 49.1 ± 12.
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- Ankylosing Spondylarthritis (AS) significantly hampers patients' functional capacity and quality of life, necessitating an evaluation of these issues and their predictive factors.
- A study of 50 patients revealed that physical and social handicaps were prevalent, with most patients experiencing significant limitations, notably in physical health.
- Key predictive factors for reduced quality of life included lack of occupation, high disability metrics, and disease activity indicators, highlighting the need for early interventions based on these factors.
Background: Ochronosis of alkaptonuria is a rare hereditary autosomal recessive disease in which there is an absence of homogentisic acid oxidase resulting in accumulation of homogentisic acid in tissues.
Aim: To report a new case of alkaptonuria
Case Report: A 49-year-old man had been followed for 4 years for chronic lombalgia and arthropaty of two knees. He is married to his cousin and father of 4 girls.
Background: The fracture risk assessment tool (FRAXTM), published in February 2008, is developed based on the use of clinical risk factors with or without bone mineral density tests.
Aim: To calculate the FRAX tool in a cohort of Tunisian patients in whom bone mineral density (BMD) was assessed by dual X ray absorptiometry (DXA); to correlate this score to osteoporotic fracture and to BMD assessment and to propose a threshold for therapeutic intervention.
Methods: In a cross sectional study of 582 patients older than 40 years, in whom a BMD measurement by DXA has been performed between January 2006 and December 2009, clinical risk factor for osteoporotic fracture and the occurrence of a prior fragility fracture were assessed.
Article Synopsis
- The study assesses the safety of antirheumatic drugs for women of childbearing age during pregnancy and breastfeeding through a literature review.
- Cytotoxic drugs can impair fertility, while NSAIDs are safe to use until week 32 of pregnancy; acetaminophen and low to moderate corticosteroids are also considered safe.
- Disease-modifying agents like antimalarials, sulfasalazine, azathioprine, and ciclosporin are compatible with pregnancy, and specific medications are deemed safe for lactating mothers, highlighting the importance of careful planning and monitoring during pregnancy.
Background: Adult-onset Still's disease (ASD) is an uncommon clinical entity. It is a diagnosis of exclusion, characterized by a clinical triad of intermittent fever spikes, evanescent rash, and either arthralgia or arthritis. Destructive arthritis more commonly affects the hips, wrists, tarsal joints and cervical spine.
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- The study aimed to understand how pregnancy and postpartum periods affect rheumatoid arthritis (RA) and the role of HLA class II differences between mothers and their babies.
- Among 13 women with RA, 62.5% experienced improved disease symptoms during pregnancy, but 92% had disease relapses after giving birth, often within about 80 days.
- Results showed a potential connection between having male newborns and worse RA outcomes, and a significant number of cases had high HLA class II disparity, which may influence RA activity.
Objective: Ankylosing spondylitis (AS) is the second most common chronic inflammatory joint disease after rheumatoid arthritis and causes substantial functional impairment, two features that generate a heavy socioeconomic burden. Here, our objective was to assess the socioeconomic impact of AS and to identify factors associated with higher costs.
Patients And Methods: We retrospectively reviewed the medical charts of 50 patients with AS seen at the Monastir Public Health Service Hospital over the 6-month period from March to September 2006.
Background: Ultrasound is an emerging tool in the diagnosis of carpal tunnel syndrome (CTS). THE AIM of this study is to evaluate the diagnostic role of ultrasound n the CTS.
Methods: Twenty five patients with signs and positive electromyographic of CTS were evaluated with ultrasound.
Article Synopsis
- The study investigates the prevalence of subclinical amyloidosis in rheumatoid arthritis (RA) patients using abdominal fat aspiration biopsy (AFAB) and minor salivary gland biopsy (MSGB), finding a high prevalence rate of 21.5% with AFAB.
- Factors linked to subclinical amyloidosis include a longer time to diagnosis, extraarticular manifestations, higher levels of proteinuria, and the absence of methotrexate therapy, but not demographics or other health metrics.
- The authors recommend using AFAB as a screening tool for patients at risk, emphasizing the importance of monitoring subclinical amyloidosis to catch more serious symptoms early.
Introduction: Cervical spine involvement is common and potentially severe in patients with rheumatoid arthritis (RA). The objectives of this study were to compare the prevalences of cervical spine abnormalities detected by standard radiography, computed tomography (CT), and magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) in patients with RA; and to identify factors associated with cervical spine involvement.
Methods: We studied 40 patients who met American College of Rheumatology criteria for RA and had disease durations of 2 years or more.
Tarlov cysts and nerve roots anomalies usually involve lumbosacral roots and are often asymptomatic. MRI has enabled recognition of many conditions that used to be missed by CT or myelography investigations performed for back and leg pain. However, even without additional compressive impingement (disc hernia, spondylolisthesis or lumbar canal stenosis) these anomalies can be responsible for sciatica, motor deficit and bladder sphincter dysfunction.
View Article and Find Full Text PDFIntroduction: Tumoral calcinosis is a rare complication of chronic hemodialysis whose mechanism is incompletely understood. The treatment is challenging and should target the main precipitating factors, most notably secondary hyperparathyroidism and calcium-phosphate (Ca x P) product elevation.
Case Report: In this 41-year-old patient, tumoral calcinosis developed in the right hip and subacromial bursa of the right shoulder after 3 years of chronic hemodialysis.
Introduction: Tuberculous dactylitis (TD) is a rare disorder. It is the source of a diagnostic hardship as it is difficult to distinguish from other lesions. We report an unusual case with multiple affected sites both in hands and the right big toe.
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