Association of low general health status, measured prospectively by Euroqol EQ5D, with osteoporosis, independent of a history of prior fracture.

Objectives: There have been no studies of generic health-related quality of life (HR-QOL) measured prospectively, in patients referred for bone mass measurement. The aim of this study was to examine the relationship between HR-QOL, measured before DXA scanning was undertaken, and bone mineral density (BMD). Comparison of HR-QOL with the age- and sex-matched general population was also made.

Dose escalation of parenteral methotrexate in active rheumatoid arthritis that has been unresponsive to conventional doses of methotrexate: a randomized, controlled trial.

Objective: To examine whether dose escalation of intramuscular (IM) methotrexate (MTX) up to 45 mg/week improves disease control in patients who have active rheumatoid arthritis (RA) despite receiving conventional doses (15 mg/week) of IM MTX, and to obtain preliminary data on patient tolerability and adverse effects of higher doses of IM MTX.

Methods: Patients >18 years of age who had active RA, defined as a European League Against Rheumatism (EULAR) Disease Activity Score in 28 joints (DAS28) of >3.2, and who had received 15-20 mg/week of oral MTX for at least 2 months were switched (week 0) to 15 mg/week of IM MTX for 6 weeks.

Impact of a nurse-led counselling service on quality of life in patients with inflammatory bowel disease.

Aim: Health related quality of life is impaired in patients suffering from inflammatory bowel disease. Although counselling directed towards physical and psychological morbidity is assumed to improve health related quality of life, this has never been demonstrated.

Methods: Physical and psychological well-being were assessed using questionnaires administered to 100 out-patients in the United Kingdom suffering from inflammatory bowel disease, 50 subjects not suffering from inflammatory bowel disease and a disease control group comprising 28 patients with psoriatic arthritis.