Drugs and ANCA - an atypical association.

Eosinophilic vasculitis is a rare condition due to vascular damage and infiltration of eosinophils into tissues. Antineutrophil cytoplasmic antibody (ANCA), like perinuclear ANCA (p-ANCA), is common in the context of systemic vasculitis, but its association with illicit drug use is unusual. This case report showcases a distinctive scenario featuring a positive pANCA, prompting a meticulous examination of the interplay between vasculitic manifestations and drug abuse.

Assessment of calcinosis in Portuguese patients with systemic sclerosis - a multicenter study.

Introduction/objectives: The study aims to define the clinical and subclinical calcinosis prevalence, the sensitivity of radiographed site and clinical method for its diagnosis, and the phenotype of Portuguese systemic sclerosis (SSc) patients with calcinosis.

Method: A cross-sectional multicenter study was conducted with SSc patients fulfilling Leroy/Medsger 2001 or ACR/EULAR 2013 classification criteria, registered in the Reuma.pt.

Infective endocarditis - why should rheumatologists be aware?

Infective endocarditis has a wide range of clinical manifestations, making the diagnosis complex. Musculoskeletal symptoms whose prevalence is not negligible are often underestimated. This clinical case is about a 44-year-old female patient with previous aortic and mitral valvuloplasty for rheumatic fever valve disease referred to the outpatient Rheumatology department for the migratory onset of pain and swelling of the left lateral malleolus, right wrist, right first finger and left fifth distal phalanx associated with painful punctate lesions of the digital pulps and lateral edge of the feet and migratory and painful erythematous papules lasting for three months.

Reuma.pt/vasculitis - the Portuguese vasculitis registry.

Background: The vasculitides are a group of rare diseases with different manifestations and outcomes. New therapeutic options have led to the need for long-term registries. The Rheumatic Diseases Portuguese Register, Reuma.

Hypogonadotropic Hypogonadism in Non-Functioning Pituitary Adenomas: Impact of Intervention.

To determine the prevalence of hypogonadotropic hypogonadism (HH) among patients with non-functioning pituitary adenomas (NFPA) and the post-surgery outcome on pituitary gonadotropins secretion (PGS); to determine the prevalence of erectile dysfunction (ED) on male patients with NFPA, to evaluate the impact of testosterone replacement therapy (TRT) in those with HH. Retrospective evaluation of gonadal function in 109 NFPA patients (45 males), with a mean age of 51.8 years, diagnosed on the last 10 years.

Therapy of calcinosis universalis complicating adult dermatomyositis.

Although frequent in juvenile dermatomyositis, calcinosis is a rare finding in adult dermatomyositis. It has been associated with disease activity and delayed treatment. It is more common in later phases of the disease, in sites under chronic stress and trauma.