Aortitis in ankylosing spondylitis: early detection of aortic root abnormalities with two dimensional echocardiography.

Mild aortic root dilatation, cusp thickening and subvalvular fibrous ridges have been reported as characteristic in patients with ankylosing spondylitis and aortic regurgitation. Thirty-five patients with ankylosing spondylitis (10 also had Reiter's syndrome) without clinically apparent cardiac involvement were studied using phased array two dimensional and sector-directed M mode echocardiography to determine the prevalence of aortic abnormalities. Aortic root dimensions were measured at the aortic anulus, at the tip of the cusps and 0.

Oligoarthropathy with chronic iridocyclitis--a disease only of childhood?

The association between chronic iridocyclitis and pauciarticular disease in childhood is well recognized. In view of this important subset of childhood arthritis, a comparable entity was searched for in adults. Twenty-three rheumatologists and 149 ophthalmologists were contacted in the San Francisco Bay area regarding the possible presence of this association in their catchment area of several million adult individuals.

Reiter's syndrome following epidemic shigellosis.

To define the epidemiology of post-dysenteric Reiter's syndrome (RS), 1,162 persons were questioned about compatible symptoms soon after 3 separate outbreaks of shigellosis. We diagnosed RS for 3 women of 204 persons ill during an outbreak of Shigella flexneri 1b, for 3 women of 206 ill during an outbreak of S. flexneri 2a, and for none of 85 ill during an outbreak of S.

Treatment of intractable rheumatoid arthritis with total lymphoid irradiation.

Eleven patients with intractable rheumatoid arthritis were treated with total lymphoid irradiation (total dose, 2000 rad) in an uncontrolled feasibility study, as an alternative to long-term therapy with cytotoxic drugs such as cyclophosphamide and azathioprine. During a follow-up period of five to 18 months after total lymphoid irradiation, there was a profound and sustained suppression of the absolute lymphocyte count and in vitro lymphocyte function, as well as an increase in the ratio of Leu-2 (suppressor/cytotoxic) to Leu-3 (helper) T cells in the blood. Persistent circulating suppressor cells of the mixed leukocyte response and of pokeweek mitogen-induced immunoglobulin secretion developed in most patients.

Reiter's syndrome. Evaluation of preliminary criteria for definite disease.

A retrospective evaluation of 83 patients with Reiter's syndrome (RS) and 166 comparison arthritis patients was conducted in order to assess the preliminary criteria for definite RS. Data analysis was based on the statement that Reiter's syndrome consists of an episode of peripheral arthritis of more than 1 month duration occurring in association with urethritis and/or cervicitis. During the initial episode of RS, 70 of the 83 RS patients satisfied the criteria, yielding a sensitivity of 84.

The prevalence and nature of back pain in an industrial complex: a questionnaire and radiographic and HLA analysis.

A questionnaire relating to presence and nature of back pain was distributed to all 10,150 employees (59% men) of an industrial complex. The questionnaire was returned by 2892 subjects (65% men). Of these, 1880 (65% of responders or 19% of total) reported a history of back pain.