Sacroiliitis in inflammatory bowel disease.

Purpose Of Review: This review summarizes the recent evidence regarding the epidemiology of inflammatory bowel disease (IBD) associated sacroiliitis, including the prevalence, pathogenesis, role of imaging, and therapeutic challenges.

Recent Findings: Sacroiliitis is an underappreciated musculoskeletal manifestation of IBD, a chronic inflammatory condition of the gut affecting the younger population. Untreated sacroiliitis can lead to joint destruction and chronic pain, further adding to morbidity in IBD patients.

A Rare Case of MDA-5-Positive Amyopathic Dermatomyositis with Rapidly Progressive Interstitial Lung Disease Following COVID-19 mRNA Vaccination - a Case Report.

We report a rare case of new-onset MDA-5-positive amyopathic dermatomyositis with rapidly progressive interstitial lung disease (RP-ILD) following the second dose of the COVID-19 mRNA vaccine. Our patient was a previously healthy Asian female in her 60 s who presented with fatigue, dyspnea on exertion, and typical dermatomyositis (DM) rashes without muscle involvement two weeks after receiving the second dose of the COVID-19 mRNA BNT162b2 vaccine. Workup revealed high titer MDA-5 antibodies, abnormal pulmonary function tests, and ground-glass opacities on chest imaging.

Utility of magnetic resonance imaging in Crohn's associated sacroiliitis: A cross-sectional study.

Objective: Prevalence of sacroiliitis in Crohn's disease (CD) is variable depending on defining criteria. This study utilized standardized sacroiliac joint (SIJ) magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) to identify sacroiliitis in CD patients and its association with clinical and serological markers.

Methods: Consecutive adult subjects with CD prospectively enrolled from an inflammatory bowel disease clinic underwent SIJ MRI.

Prevalence, Predictors, and Disease Activity of Sacroiliitis Among Patients with Crohn's Disease.

Background: Sacroiliitis is an inflammatory arthritis of the sacroiliac joints and is associated with inflammatory bowel disease (IBD). Yet, sacroiliitis often goes undiagnosed in IBD, and the clinical association between IBD disease activity and sacroiliitis is not well established. Patients with Crohn's disease (CD) often receive magnetic resonance enterography (MRE) to assess disease activity, affording clinicians the opportunity to evaluate for the presence of sacroiliitis.

Comparison between radiography and magnetic resonance imaging for the detection of sacroiliitis in the initial diagnosis of axial spondyloarthritis: a cost-effectiveness study.

Objective: The purpose of our study was to determine the cost-effectiveness of radiography and MRI-based imaging strategies for the initial diagnosis of sacroiliitis in a hypothetical population with suspected axial spondyloarthritis.

Materials And Methods: A decision analytic model from the health care system perspective for patients with inflammatory back pain suggestive of axial spondyloarthritis was used to evaluate the incremental cost-effectiveness of 3 imaging strategies for the sacroiliac joints over a 3-year horizon: radiography, MRI, and radiography followed by MRI. Comprehensive literature search and expert opinion provided input data on cost, probability, and utility estimates.

Methotrexate pharmacogenetics in rheumatoid arthritis: a status report.

Methotrexate (MTX), an antifolate drug, is the first-line disease-modifying agent for the treatment of rheumatoid arthritis (RA) worldwide. MTX has excellent long-term efficacy, tolerability and safety. Early initiation of MTX in patients with RA controls joint destruction and slows progression of disease.

Infectious complications in patients with left ventricular assist device: etiology and outcomes in the continuous-flow era.

Background: Continuous-flow left ventricular assist devices (LVAD) are increasingly being used in patients with end-stage heart failure and have largely replaced older generation pulsatile devices. While significant rates of infection have been reported in patients with pulsatile device support, incidence and outcomes of this complication for the continuous-flow device patients remain unknown.

Methods: Between June 2005 and August 2009, 81 patients were implanted with continuous-flow LVADs at Washington University School of Medicine either as bridge to transplantation or as destination therapy.