[Serum anti endomysial and anti transglutaminase antibodies in patients with connective tissue diseases].

Background: The detection of anti-transglutaminase IgA (tTG) and anti-endomysial (EMA) is used for screening of celiac disease (CD) with a sensitivity and specificity of 90 and 99% respectively. There is an association between CD and connective tissue diseases (CTD).

Aim: To report the frequency of IgA tTG and EMA in patients with a definite diagnosis of CTD and inflammatory arthropathies (IA).

[Osteonecrosis in HIV-infected patients].

Osteonecrosis, also known as avascular necrosis, is chiefly characterized by death of bone caused by vascular compromise. The true incidence of osteonecrosis in HIV-infected patients is not well known and the pathogenesis remains undefined. Hypothetical risk factors peculiar to HIV-infected individuals that might play a role in the pathogenesis of osteonecrosis include the introduction of protease inhibitors and resulting hyperlipidemia, the presence of anticardiolipin antibodies in serum leading to a hypercoagulable state, immune recovery and vasculitis.

Jaccoud's arthropathy of the hands in overlap syndrome.

The objective of this work was to evaluate the frequency and features of Jaccoud's syndrome of the hands in patients with overlap syndrome. Twenty-three patients with overlap syndrome were prospectively evaluated by means of a complete physical examination, serological assessment, and hand X-rays. The presence of Jaccoud's syndrome was defined by Kahn's criteria.

Human immunodeficiency virus infection search for musculoskeletal manifestations and mimicking of rheumatologic disorders.

This study involved 50 human immunodeficiency virus (HIV)-positive patients in various stages of the disease to identify signs and symptoms suggestive of rheumatologic disorders and to determine how frequently such findings mimic rheumatologic pictures. Control subjects were 25 ambulatory HIV-negative patients with similar risk factors, mostly drug abuse. Although arthralgias and myalgias were reported in both groups, arthritis was only detected in the HIV-positive group.