Gait analysis of the lower limb in patients with rheumatoid arthritis: a systematic review.

Introduction: In rheumatoid arthritis (RA), signs and symptoms of feet and ankle are common. To evaluate the dynamic function of feet and ankles, namely walking, a variety of gait studies have been published. In this systematic review, we provide a systematic overview of the available gait studies in RA, give a clinimetrical assignment, and review the general conclusions regarding gait in RA.

Magnetic resonance imaging of the rheumatic foot according to the RAMRIS system is reliable.

Objective: In rheumatology, magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) is predominantly applied in the assessment and outcome measurement of rheumatoid arthritis (RA) in hands and wrists, leading to the development of the RAMRIS (RA-MRI-Scoring) system. It was initiated by the Outcome Measures in Rheumatoid Arthritis Clinical Trials (OMERACT). The RAMRIS system has not been applied widely in the measurement of feet.

Arm crank ergometer is reliable and valid for measuring aerobic capacity during submaximal exercise.

Measuring physical fitness becomes more important. Yet most instruments depend upon the function of the lower extremities. Hence, we investigated whether an adapted submaximal arm crank test on an ergometer for the upper body is reliable to use, and if the submaximal test for the arm crank ergometer is valid compared to the test on the bicycle ergometer.

Ultrasound findings in rheumatoid wrist arthritis highly correlate with function.

Purpose: The wrist is almost invariably affected in rheumatoid arthritis (RA) and inflammation of the wrist can lead to impaired function and eventually to severe destruction. Classical signs of inflammation, pain, swelling and heat may often be observed in clinical examination of wrist arthritis and in ultrasound (US) investigation. We described the relation between clinical and ultrasound parameters of wrist arthritis and secondly their relation to function.

Cost-effectiveness of intensive exercise therapy directly following hospital discharge in patients with arthritis: results of a randomized controlled clinical trial.

Objective: To estimate the cost-utility and cost-effectiveness of a 3-week intensive exercise training (IET) program directly following hospital discharge in patients with rheumatic diseases.

Methods: Patients with arthritis who were admitted to the hospital because of a disease activity flare or for elective hip or knee arthroplasty were randomly assigned to either the IET group or usual care (UC) group. Followup lasted 1 year.

Flexor Hallucis Longus tendon rupture in RA-patients is associated with MTP 1 damage and pes planus.

Background: To assess the prevalence of and relation between rupture or tenosynovitis of the Flexor Hallucis Longus (FHL) tendon and range of motion, deformities and joint damage of the forefoot in RA patients with foot complaints.

Methods: Thirty RA patients with painful feet were analysed, their feet were examined clinically for the presence of pes planus and range of motion (ROM), radiographs were scored looking for the presence of forefoot damage, and ultrasound examination was performed, examining the presence of tenosyovitis or rupture of the FHL at the level of the medial malleolus. The correlation between the presence or absence of the FHL and ROM, forefoot damage and pes planus was calculated.

Patient-perceived satisfactory improvement (PPSI): interpreting meaningful change in pain from the patient's perspective.

The assessment of clinically meaningful changes in patient-reported pain has become increasingly important when interpreting results of clinical studies. However, proposed response criteria, such as the minimal clinically important difference, do not correspond with the growing need for information on truly meaningful, individual improvements. The aim of the present study was to investigate satisfactory improvements in pain from the patient's perspective.

Incremental cost-effectiveness of cyclooxygenase 2-selective versus nonselective nonsteroidal anti-inflammatory drugs in a cohort of coumarin users: a pharmacoeconomic analysis linked to a case-control study.

Background: A previous case-control study involving concomitant users of coumarin and nonsteroidal anti-inflammatory drugs (NSAIDs) found that cyclooxygenase 2 (COX-2)-selective NSAIDs were associated with fewer bleeding complications than nonselective NSAIDs.

Objective: The goal of this study was to determine the incremental cost-effectiveness of COX-2-selective versus nonselective NSAIDs in relation to the occurrence of bleeding complications in a cohort of concomitant coumarin users.

Methods: The pharmacoeconomic evaluation was linked to a case-control analysis (patients with and without bleeding complications) based on data from the earlier study in users of concomitant coumarin and NSAIDs.

Concomitant coumarin-NSAID therapy and risk for bleeding.

Objective: To investigate the risk of bleeding complications during the combined use of coumarin derivatives and nonsteroidal antiinflammatory drugs (NSAIDs) compared with the use of coumarin derivatives alone.

Subjects And Methods: In this 1-year observational study, the local outpatient anticoagulation office detected all coumarin users with bleeding complications. These patients were sent questionnaires regarding the type and consequences of the bleeding as well as previous NSAID use.