[Polyarthritis in the elderly].

Ten to thirty-three per cent of all cases of rheumatoid arthritis (RA) develop after sixty years of age. Late-onset RA patients are more likely to be male, to have faster onset of symptoms, to experience shoulder and hip disease initially, and to have higher erythrocyte sedimentation rates; they are less likely to develop rheumatoid nodules, extraarticular manifestations, positive serologic tests, or unfavorable outcomes. There are roughly three patterns of late-onset RA: a classical form which resembles typical adult-onset RA; a limited, fairly mild form in which Gougerot-Sjögren syndrome often coexists; and a form in which the shoulders and hips are involved first.

[Bone density and biological markers in a population of 330 women].

A population of 330 non-selected women underwent determination of bone density by means of Bi X absorptiometry of the lumbar spine and femur. The findings showed a negative correlation with the time since the menopause and a positive correlation with the duration of genitally active life and with substitutive hormonal treatment. The determination of the L1 density can replace that of the entire lumbar spine in cases in which osteoarthritis, atheroma or crushing make this determination unreliable.

[Definition of and diagnostic criteria for osteoarthritis. Application of anti-osteoarthritis agents to clinical experimentation].

The best definition of osteoarthritis is anatomical, but to be rigorous must include the biochemical characteristics of osteoarthritis cartilage. The most appropriate diagnostic criteria for clinical trials are those of Lequesne. However, radiological criteria assume that osteoarthritis had already developed and should be modified in order to permit the inclusion of early stages of osteoarthritis.

[Lyme arthritis].

Infection by spirochete Borrelia burgdorferi is mainly observed in the United States where it has taken the name of Lyme's disease, and in Europe. Its evolution may be very extended, in several phases. A few weeks after a tick-bite, the primary lesion appears, which is a chronic migrating erythema.

[Bone and muscular lesions in sarcoidosis].

Bone lesions are observed in 10 to 15 p. 100 of cases of sarcoidosis. They occur in women in 2 out of 3 cases; the age of onset is slightly later than that of the sarcoidosis; the lesions involve mainly the fingers and toes but any part of the skeleton may be affected.

[Lumbosciatica and nerve root anomalies].

The authors report 3 cases of lumbar pain and sciatica where operation revealed the existence of abnormalities in the distribution of L5 and S1 roots. In one case, the L5 root was not recognised within fibrous tissue also surrounding S1 and S2 and histological examination of this "fibrosis" led to the identification of nerve structures. Development of postoperative L5 paralysis showed that the L5 root was contained within the tissue non-individualised, consisting of multiple rootlets.

[Villonodular synovitis of the knee].

The authors report the main results of a study of 12 cases of villous nodular synovitis of the knee. The distribution according to age and sex is in agreement with the data in the literature. The delay between the first sign and the first consultation was, on average, 1.

[Inoculation spondylodiskitis].

An enquiry on French rheumatology units permitted the authors to collect 122 cases of inoculation spondylodiscitis from 1967 to 1979, whereas over the same period were observed on these units 793 cases of spontaneous non-tuberculous spondylodiscitis. There were also 10 cases of spondylodiscitis after discography. Discal curettage was the most frequent cause.

[Acute leukaemias after treatment using cytotoxic agents for rheumatological purpose. 19 cases among 2006 patients(author's transl)].

The authors undertook a retrospective study to determine the number of acute leukaemias developing amongst 2006 patients suffering from chronic inflammatory rheumatic conditions and connective tissue disorders, treated with cytotoxic agents. The follow-up period ranged from 1 to 13 years. Nineteen leukaemias were found, essentially granulocytic, with a latent period of 5.