An international survey of current management practices for polymyalgia rheumatica by general practitioners and rheumatologists.

Objectives: To explore current management practices for PMR by general practitioners (GPs) and rheumatologists including implications for clinical trial recruitment.

Methods: An English language questionnaire was constructed by a working group of rheumatologists and GPs from six countries. The questionnaire focused on: 1: Respondent characteristics; 2: Referral practices; 3: Treatment with glucocorticoids; 4: Diagnostics; 5: Comorbidities; and 6: Barriers to research.

Gout and AA-Amyloidosis: A Case-Based Review.

Background: AA-amyloidosis complicates many chronic infections and inflammatory diseases, including rheumatoid arthritis, ankylosing spondylitis, and psoriatic arthritis, but its relationship to gout is extremely rare. As it is unknown definitely what the pathophysiological connections between gout and amyloidosis are, treatment issues of the diseases are open for discussion.

Aim: To establish a link between gout and AA-amyloidosis, and to improve the quality of treatment in patients suffering from gout and AA-amyloidosis.

Etiological profile of hearing loss amongst Lithuanian pediatric cochlear implant users.

Introduction: Congenital sensorineural hearing loss is a heterogeneous disorder; its etiological profile varies between populations. Pathogenic variants of GJB2 gene are the major cause of non-syndromic hearing loss. Congenital cytomegalovirus infection (cCMV) is the most important prenatal etiological factor causing hearing loss and other disorders.