Tendinous laxity and Jaccoud's syndrome in patients with systemic lupus erythematosus. Possible role of secondary hyperparathyroidism.

Fourteen of 52 unselected patients with systemic lupus erythematosus (SLE) (27%) had ligamentous derangement demonstrated by either Jaccoud's syndrome and/or patellar tendon elongation. Three cases had only Jaccoud's syndrome, 4 isolated patellar tendinous laxity, while the remaining 7 presented both findings. Jaccoud's syndrome and/or tendinous laxity were not associated to an increased frequency of arthritis, corticosteroid therapy or a longer disease duration, but significantly associated with increased serum PTH levels secondary to chronic renal failure.

Laxity and rupture of the patellar tendon in systemic lupus erythematosus. Association with secondary hyperparathyroidism.

We describe a patient with systemic lupus erythematosus, chronic renal failure and secondary hyperparathyroidism who developed laxity and elongation of the patellar tendon, followed by its rupture one year later. Hydroxyapatite and urate crystals were identified from the chalky material surrounding the patellar tendon observed at surgery. These findings suggest that tendon laxity and elongation could possibly be detected before its rupture and that secondary hyperparathyroidism could be considered as another causative factor of tendon damage in patients with systemic lupus erythematosus.

Serum amyloid protein levels in south american children with rheumatoid arthritis: a co-operative study.

Serum amyloid protein (SAA) levels were determined by radioimmunoassay in 90 children with juvenile rheumatoid arthritis (JRA). Significantly higher levels of SAA were present in children with the polyarticular and systemic forms of the disease. SAA levels correlate with disease activity, increasing during acute exacerbations, decreasing during remission and in patients having prednisone therapy.