Clinical presentation, treatment and outcome of Takayasu's arteritis in southern Chinese: a multicenter retrospective study.

To study the clinical presentation, treatment and outcome of southern Chinese patients with Takayasu's arteritis (TA). This is a retrospective chart review study of 78 patients managed in 14 public hospitals in Hong Kong between the years 2000 and 2010. Patients were identified from the hospital registry using the ICD-10 diagnostic code of the disease.

Acute myocardial infarction and subclavian artery occlusion in a 41-year-old woman with Behçet's disease: coronary and large vessel arteritis.

We report the case of a 41-year-old Chinese woman with Behçet's disease (BD) complicated by acute myocardial infarction, requiring inotropic and ventilatory support. Angiography showed critical left anterior descending coronary artery stenosis, a blocked left subclavian artery and left carotid artery stenosis. The patient was successfully treated with a high dose of immunosuppressants, standard anti-ischaemic therapy and percutaneous coronary intervention.

Prevalence and associated factors of reduced bone mineral density in patients with idiopathic inflammatory myopathies.

Aim: To determine the prevalence and identify the associated factors of reduced bone mineral density (BMD) in patients with idiopathic inflammatory myopathies (IIMs).

Method: Existing patients diagnosed to have IIMs were recruited for measurement of BMD by dual energy X-ray absorptiometry. Demographic, clinical and treatment variables of these patients were recorded.

The effects of golimumab on subclinical atherosclerosis and arterial stiffness in ankylosing spondylitis—a randomized, placebo-controlled pilot trial.

Objective: Our aim was to ascertain the efficacy of golimumab compared with placebo in the prevention of atherosclerosis and arterial stiffness in AS.

Methods: A randomized, double-blind, placebo-controlled pilot study was performed in which AS patients were treated with golimumab (n = 20) and placebo (n = 21) for 12 months. Patients from the placebo group who failed to achieve a 20% response to Assessment of SpondyloArthritis international Society criteria (ASAS20) at 6 months received open-label golimumab.

Arthroscopic synovectomy for rheumatoid wrists and elbows.

Purpose: To evaluate the treatment outcome of wrist and elbow arthroscopic synovectomy for patients with rheumatoid arthritis.

Methods: 3 men and 18 women aged 27 to 71 (mean, 54) years underwent arthroscopic synovectomy for rheumatoid arthritis of the wrist (n=12) and elbow (n=13). All patients had received multiple medications including non-steroidal anti-inflammatory drugs, disease-modifying anti-rheumatic drugs, and steroids, as well as physiotherapy and splintage for 6 months, but the joint pain and disability persisted.