Assessing hand and global disability in a cohort of Algerian patients with systemic sclerosis: Construct validities of the Arab Hand Function Index and the Arabic Health Assessment Questionnaire.

Objective: The study aimed to assess the construct validity of the Arab Hand Function Index and the Arabic Health Assessment Questionnaire in Algerian patients with systemic sclerosis.

Methods: Consecutive Algerian patients who fulfilled the American College of Rheumatology/European League Against Rheumatism criteria for systemic sclerosis were included. In addition to disease characteristics, global disability and hand disability were assessed using the Arabic Health Assessment Questionnaire and the Arab Hand Function Index, respectively.

Development of a guideline for the use of ultrasonography in rheumatoid arthritis: Preliminary recommendations.

Aim: To address the protocol of recommendations for the use of ultrasonography (US) in the management of rheumatoid arthritis (RA) in routine practice.

Methods: The present study is a protocol design for practical guidelines. Based on a systematic literature review, the scientific committee (composed of 6 experts on US) decided on key questions which will be used to develop recommendations.

Predictors of efficacy of ultrasound-guided intra-articular glucocorticoid injection in knee osteoarthritis: A prospective study.

Background: Intra-articular glucocorticoid injection (IAGI) is widely used for treatment of knee osteoarthritis (OA) flares. Response rates are generally around 70%. Several studies have tried to identify predictors of good response, but response to ultrasound (US)-guided injection has not yet been investigated.

Nakajo-Nishimura Syndrome: The First African Case.

Nakajo-Nishimura syndrome is a hereditary autoinflammatory disorder caused by an autosomal recessive homozygous mutation of the PSMB8 gene, which encodes the immunoproteasome subunit beta 5i. The clinical manifestations of NNS are mainly pernio-like skin rashes, nodular erythema, lipodystrophy, clubbed fingers, remittent fever, hepatosplenomegaly, and basal ganglia calcifications. Here we are reporting a case of NNS in an 11-year-old girl, who lives in eastern Algeria, born from a first-degree consanguineous marriage, she presented with erythematous patches on her face and her back, nodular erythema on her neck, swollen and painful fingers with acrocyanosis and recurrent fever that mainly occurred in cold weather.

Ultrasonography of Shoulder in Rheumatoid Arthritis: A Reliability Exercise Using Consensual Definitions among Maghrebian Rheumatologists.

The shoulder may be affected in a large portion of patients with rheumatoid arthritis (RA) worldwide. However, this joint does not receive the attention required during follow-up. Indeed, although numerous clinical tests for diagnosis of a painful shoulder are available, differentiating articular from peri-articular lesions may be difficult in daily practice.

Rheumatic diseases in Africa.

Historically, rheumatic diseases have not received much attention in Africa, particularly in sub-Saharan Africa, possibly owing to a focus on the overwhelming incidence of infectious diseases and the decreased life span of the general population in this region. Global attention and support, together with better health policies and planning, have improved outcomes for many infectious diseases; thus, increasing attention is being turned to chronic non-communicable diseases. Rheumatic diseases were previously considered to be rare among Africans but there is now a growing interest in these conditions, particularly as the number of rheumatologists on the continent increases.

Spondyloarthritis in North Africa: an update.

Spondyloarthritis (SpA) has been less well studied than rheumatoid arthritis in North Africa, due to a belief that it is rare and benign in certain populations. The main genetic trait of SpA is its association with human leukocyte antigen (HLA)-B27. The distribution of this allele largely explains the prevalence and severity of SpA.

African League Against Rheumatism (AFLAR) preliminary recommendations on the management of rheumatic diseases during the COVID-19 pandemic.

Objectives: To develop recommendations for the management of rheumatic and musculoskeletal diseases (RMDs) during the COVID-19 pandemic.

Method: A task force comprising of 25 rheumatologists from the 5 regions of the continent was formed and operated through a hub-and-spoke model with a central working committee (CWC) and 4 subgroups. The subgroups championed separate scopes of the clinical questions and formulated preliminary statements of recommendations which were processed centrally in the CWC.

Prevalence of metabolic syndrome in Algerian rheumatoid arthritis patients. Correlation with disease activity and functional status.

Background: There is evidence that rheumatoid arthritis (RA) patients have an over-risk of cardiovascular disease. This may be mainly due to an increase in the prevalence of metabolic syndrome (MetS). The prevalence of MetS among adults in Algeria is 19.

Successful treatment of Acrodermatitis continua of Hallopeau associated with psoriatic arthritis with adalimumab.

Acrodermatitis continua of Hallopeau (ACH) is a rare form of pustular psoriasis, mainly affecting distal phalanges of hands and feet. Many therapeutic options exist; however, it tends to be resistant to treatment. We report a 26-year-old man presented with a very severe psoriatic arthritis associated with ACH.

Characteristics of rheumatoid arthritis in Algeria: a multicenter study.

The aim of this study was to compare the epidemiology of rheumatoid arthritis (RA) in North Africa to that of Western countries. We have enrolled in a cross-sectional study all consecutive patients presenting with the diagnosis of RA according to the 1987 ACR criteria, and during a 5-month period, patients were included in 11 centers across northern Algeria. Demographics, clinical data, and health assessment questionnaires (HAQ) were collected for each patient.

Successful treatment of pain in melorheostosis with zoledronate, with improvement on bone scintigraphy.

Melorheostosis is a very rare sclerosing bone disorder that involves frequently one limb. It may be asymptomatic, but pain and limb deformity may occur and can be very debilitating. Different reports have indicated efficacy of bisphosphonates (pamidronate and etidronate) on symptoms.

Rituximab in rheumatoid arthritis and the risk of malignancies: report from a French cohort.

Objective: To determine in real-life conditions the safety of treatment with rituximab (RTX) in patients with rheumatoid arthritis (RA) regarding malignancies.

Methods: Analysis of safety data from a cohort of RA patients who received at least one course of RTX. RA patients with previous malignancies were followed-up and compared to the group of patients with no history of malignancy.

Juvenile hyaline fibromatosis: focus on radiographic features in adulthood.

Juvenile hyaline fibromatosis (JHF) is a rare autosomal recessive hereditary disorder (less than 80 cases reported), characterized by multiple nodular lesions on the skin and musculoskeletal involvement, very debilitating because most adolescents and adults become bedridden. Only 10 cases have been reported on JHF in adulthood. We report the case of a 34-year-old male patient in whom clinical and histological findings were consistent with a mild JHF and focus on the radiographic features.

Complete resolution of universal calcinosis in a patient with juvenile dermatomyositis using pamidronate.

A 14-year-old girl with juvenile dermatomyositis developed extensive and debilitating calcinosis, unresponsive to colchicine, while muscle involvement subsided. Pamidronate (2mg/kg/year) produced dramatic improvement of pain and function within 2 months and calcinosis had completely resolved by 2 years. No new calcifications have been noted with a 5-year follow-up.