Long-term results of infliximab therapy in rheumatoid arthritis: experience acquired by the North-Pas-de-Calais hospital network.

Objective: Infliximab is effective in patients with rheumatoid arthritis (RA). Add-on infliximab therapy in patients on methotrexate results in a rapid gain in effectiveness, which lasts at least 1 year. The objective of this study was to evaluate the effectiveness and continuation rate of infliximab in patients with RA after the first year of treatment.

Bone metastases revealing primary tumors. Comparison of two series separated by 30 years.

Objective: To compare two series of patients admitted to a rheumatology department for bone metastases 30 years apart and to obtain a pragmatic estimation of the percentage of bone metastases revealing cancer.

Methods: The recent series was composed of 132 patients seen between 1989 and 1996 and the earlier series of 50 patients admitted between 1958 and 1967. All patients were admitted to the same rheumatology department for bone metastases from a diagnosed or undiagnosed primary.

Subchondral fractures of the femoral head: a review of seven cases.

Objective: To describe the main characteristics of subchondral fractures of the femoral head.

Case-reports: The seven patients, five women and two men, with a mean age of 50 years (37-76 years), presented with mechanical pain in the groin. Bone loss was the main risk factor.

Pain management in a rheumatology department: a satisfaction survey.

Objectives: To evaluate the quality of pain management in a teaching hospital rheumatology department.

Methods: We conducted a satisfaction survey among all the patients admitted to the conventional rheumatology department of our teaching hospital over a 1-month period (88 patients with a mean length of stay of 5 d). The patients were asked to complete a questionnaire on the day of discharge.

Use of disease-modifying antirheumatic drugs in patients with psoriatic arthritis.

Unlabelled: Few prospective placebo-controlled studies have evaluated disease-modifying antirheumatic drugs (DMARDs) in the treatment of peripheral psoriatic arthritis.

Objective: To evaluate second-line treatments used in clinical practice in patients with psoriatic arthritis.

Method: We studied a cross-section of 100 consecutive patients seen by hospital-based or office-based rheumatologists for psoriatic arthritis.

Evaluation of spinal curvatures after a recent osteoporotic vertebral fracture.

Objectives: To evaluate spinal curvature changes over a 3-year period in postmenopausal women who had had an osteoporotic vertebral fracture within the last 3 months.

Methods: Thoracic kyphosis and lumbar lordosis were measured using a curviscope at baseline and after 1, 3, 6, 12, and 36 months. Anteroposterior and lateral radiographs of the thoracolumbar spine were obtained after 1 and 3 years.