[Bronchiectasis in rheumatoid arthritis. High resolution computed pulmonary tomography].

To evaluate the prevalence of bronchiectasis in rhumatoid arthritis (RA) we have study thirty patients (24 women and 6 men), with a mean age of 45,2 years. All patients have a RA with a follow up of 5,84 years, positive rhumatoid factor were found in 22 cases. All patients have had high resolution computed pulmonary tomography, study of clinical, radiological and spirometry parameters.

[Leflunomide in the treatment of rheumatoid arthritis].

The aim of this study was to assess the effect and safety of leflunomide (LEF) in refractory RA and to review the literature on this subject. A one year prospective study was conducted on a group of patients (n:15). Mean duration disease was 6.

[Cardiac involvement in spondylarthropathies].

Cardiac involvement is a real manifestation of spondylarthropathies and include specially aortic regurgitation and conduction troubles. We present a prospective open study of fifty patients with spondylarthropathy (responded to Amor criteria) in order to evaluate the frequency of cardiac involvement, to see its type and if we can evaluate a group of patients able to this complication. We have included forty-four men and six women with a mean age of 38 years.

[Jaccoud arthropathy and pyrophosphate arthropathy: a rare association].

Jaccoud's arthropathy (JA) is a chronic deformity affecting hands and feet, which are voluntarily correctable by the patients. JA was usually reported in association with rheumatic fever and systemic lupus erythematosus. We describe an exceptional association between a pyrophosphate arthropathy and JA of the hands.

[TNF alfa modulators in the treatment of rheumatoid arthritis].

Current slow-acting anti-rheumatic drugs available at now for rheumatoid arthritis fail in majority of cases and have an inconstant chondro-protective effect. Improvements in our knowledge of its pathogenesis and advances in molecular biology have made possible to develop selective immunotherapy approaches. Tumor necrosis factor alfa (TNF alfa) is an important inflammatory mediator that play a crucial role in rheumatoid arthritis.

[Radiologic progression of rheumatoid arthritis lesions treated with methotrexate].

Methotrexate is the treatment of reference in rheumatoid arthritis (RA) because it has proved effective in this pathology. Its clinical efficacy is largely admitted but its radiological efficacy is still in certain. The other aim is to look for other clinical and radiological indices that influence these score evolution in patients treated by Methotrexate.