Prevalence of symptomatic knee, hand, and hip osteoarthritis in Greece. The ESORDIG study.

Objective: To assess the prevalence of symptomatic knee, hand, and hip osteoarthritis (OA) in the general adult population of Greece.

Methods: This cross-sectional population based study was conducted on the total adult population of 7 communities (8547 subjects) and on 2100 out of 5686 randomly selected subjects in an additional 2 communities. Sixteen rheumatologists visited the target population at their homes; an interview based on a standardized questionnaire was conducted and clinical evaluation and laboratory investigations were done, when necessary.

The burden of the rheumatic diseases in the general adult population of Greece: the ESORDIG study.

Objective: To estimate the burden of rheumatic diseases in terms of disability and health-care utilization in the Greek general adult population.

Methods: The study was conducted on the total adult population of seven communities (8547 subjects), as well as on 2100 out of 5686 randomly selected subjects in an additional two communities. Rheumatologists visited the participants at their homes to assess the prevalence of six morbidity indicators concerning disability and health-care utilization associated with rheumatic diseases or other major disease groups.

Prevalence of rheumatic diseases in Greece: a cross-sectional population based epidemiological study. The ESORDIG Study.

Objective: To assess the prevalence of rheumatic diseases in Greek urban, suburban, and rural adult general populations.

Methods: This cross-sectional population based epidemiological study of rheumatic diseases in Greece (the ESORDIG Study) was conducted on the total adult population of 2 urban, one suburban, and 4 rural communities (8547 subjects), as well as on 2100 out of 5686 randomly selected subjects in one suburban and one rural community. The study, based on a standardized questionnaire and clinical evaluation and laboratory investigation when necessary, was carried out by rheumatologists who visited the target population at their homes.

Intravenous cyclophosphamide pulse therapy for the treatment of lung disease associated with scleroderma.

Until recently, renal crisis was the most significant cause of morbidity and mortality in patients with scleroderma (SSc). Nowadays, following the introduction of angiotensin-converting enzyme inhibitors used in renovascular hypertension, pulmonary fibrosis and pulmonary hypertension have become the most common causes of death in SSc. Consequently, the early diagnosis and treatment of pulmonary fibrosis is essential to improve morbidity and mortality in SSc patients.

Unilateral distal extremity swelling with pitting oedema in giant cell arteritis.

We describe a case of an 82-year-old woman with giant cell arteritis, who developed unilateral pitting oedema of the dorsum of the right hand, foot and distal part of the right forearm as well as tenosynovitis of the right wrist extensors, mild synovitis of the right wrist, metacarpophalangeal and metatarsophalangeal joints, during relapse of giant cell arteritis. Increase of corticosteroids resolved the giant cell arteritis, pitting oedema and tenosynovitis.