Erosive osteoarthritis of the feet: description of two patients.

Erosive osteoarthritis is considered an unusual disease, mostly developing among women. The typical locations are the interphalangeal joints of the hands. However, on a few occasions it has also been found in hips, shoulders and feet.

Immunoglobulin A in the skin of patients with ankylosing spondylitis.

Cutaneous immunofluorescence studies were carried out in 21 patients with ankylosing spondylitis (AS) and the results compared with those for 18 healthy subjects. The most prominent finding was the presence of IgA in dermal vessels of patients with AS (71% compared with 17% of the control group). IgG and IgM cutaneous deposits were also observed in patients with AS, but these results did not differ from those of the control group.

Costochondral involvement in systemic candidiasis in heroin addicts: clinical, scintigraphic, and histologic features in 26 patients.

We studied the clinical, scintigraphic, and histopathologic characteristics of 26 intravenous drug abusers with costochondral involvement secondary to systemic infection with Candida albicans. The clinical findings were of a mass appearing in the anterior region of the thorax. In general, signs of inflammation were absent.

HLA class II antigens (DR, DQ loci) and peripheral arthritis in ankylosing spondylitis.

Fifty one patients with ankylosing spondylitis (AS) were typed for HLA-A, B, C, DR, and DQ antigens. The antigen frequencies were compared with those of a normal population and with a B27 positive control group. All but one of the patients with AS were HLA-B27 positive.

Amyloid arthropathy in patients undergoing periodical haemodialysis for chronic renal failure: a new complication.

Seven patients (five male and two female) with chronic renal failure (CRF) treated by periodical haemodialysis presented with swelling and effusion of more than three months' duration in knees (four bilateral), shoulders (two, one of them bilateral), elbow (one), and ankle (one). Four had a carpal tunnel syndrome both clinically and electromyographically (three bilateral). All patients had hyperparathyroidism secondary to their CRF, which was not due to amyloidosis in any of them.

Progressive cauda equina syndrome and extensive calification/ossification of the lumbosacral meninges.

A patient with longstanding ankylosing spondylitis (AS) developed a cauda equina syndrome. The myelogram showed a block at the L2 level. Vertebral computerised tomography showed calcification in the centre of the spinal canal.

Correlation between pseudospondylolisthesis and arthrosis of the hands.

Two groups of 25 patients, one with pseudospondylolisthesis (PSL) and the other without, have been compared in order to verify the impression that arthrosis of the hands occurs more frequently in those with PSL. The observed differences were significant, being especially marked in women in whom five or more hand joints were involved and increasing in frequency with age. No relation was found between PSL and either discarthrosis or being overweight.