Is there an association between plantar fasciitis and knee osteoarthritis?

Background: Knee osteoarthritis (OA) and plantar fasciitis share similar risk factors including ageing, occupation, obesity, and inappropriate shoe wear. However, the association between knee OA and heel pain caused by plantar fasciitis has received limited attention to date.

Aim: We aimed to assess the prevalence of plantar fasciitis using ultrasound in patients with knee OA and to identify factors associated with plantar fasciitis in these patients.

Rheumatoid arthritis with concomitant fibromyalgia: The role of ultrasound in assessing disease activity.

Introduction: Fibromyalgia (FM) is a chronic painful condition frequently associated with rheumatoid arthritis (RA), which may falsely increase RA activity. The aim of our study was to compare clinical scoring and ultrasound (US) assessment in RA patients with concomitant FM with those without FM.

Methods: A cross-sectional study including patients with RA according to the ACR/EULAR 2010 criteria was conducted.

Assessment of the functional impact of foot involvement in patients with rheumatoid arthritis.

Aim Of The Work: We aimed to evaluate the impact of foot involvement in patients with rheumatoid arthritis (RA) using the functional foot index (FFI) and to identify predictive factors of the functional impact of foot abnormalities in RA patients.

Patients And Methods: This was a cross-sectional study including patients with RA meeting the criteria of the American College of Rheumatology and the European League Against Rheumatism 2010. The main epidemiological data, results of podoscopic and clinical examination of the foot and ankle, biological tests and radiological findings were collected.

Common low back pain hiding tuberculous sacroiliitis.

The sacroiliac joint is rarely affected by tuberculosis. Only few cases have been reported. Consequently, the diagnosis is often delayed.

Reactive Arthritis following Bacillus Calmette-Guerin Therapy for Bladder Cancer: a Systematic Literature Review.

Purpose Of Review: Intravesical BCG therapy (ivBCG) is a treatment for bladder cancer that complements surgery and prevents tumor progression. Reactive arthritis (ReA) is a rare osteoarticular manifestation that can complicate this treatment. An updated systematic literature review has been investigated to identify clinical, biological, and therapeutic data of this pathology.

Sexual dysfunction and its determinants in women with rheumatoid arthritis.

Objectives: To evaluate sexual function in Tunisian women with rheumatoid arthritis (RA) and to examine factors that are predictors of female sexual dysfunction including sociocultural factors, disease activity, and psychological status.

Methods: We conducted a cross-sectional study including 71 women with a confirmed diagnosis of RA according to the 2010 American College of Rheumatology/European League against Rheumatism (ACR/EULAR) criteria. Clinical and sociodemographic characteristics were collected.

Diffuse large B cell lymphoma presenting with renal failure and bone lesions in a 46-year-old woman: a case report and review of literature.

Renal involvement in large B-cell lymphoma represents an exceptional manifestation of non-Hodgkin lymphomas. Renal failure and bone metastasis by lymphomatous infiltration is extremely rare. We describe a 46-year-old woman presenting with a renal failure and a 5-month history of intermittent left knee pain that was previously misdiagnosed with osteoarthritis.

Efficacy of local injection therapy for heel pain in rheumatic inflammatory diseases: A systematic review.

Heel pain or achillodynia is one of the most common manifestations in patients with rheumatic inflammatory diseases (RID) and particularly spondyloarthritis (SpA). It can be associated with inflammation at the bone insertion of tendon, ligament, bursa or fascia. However, treatment is still a challenge for rheumatologists.

Non-radiographic axial spondyloarthritis in Tunisia: main characteristics and detailed comparison with ankylosing spondylitis.

Objectives: The aim of the present study is to compare the clinical features, disease activity, and physical impairment between non-radiographic axial spondyloarthritis and ankylosing spondylitis in Tunisian patients.

Methods: This is a retrospective study conducted in a single rheumatology center in Tunisia. Patients with axial spondyloarthritis fulfilling the 2009 ASAS criteria were included.

Do immunosuppressive agents hamper the vaccination response in patients with rheumatic diseases? A review of the literature.

Patients with auto-immune disease are more susceptible to infection than similar populations without auto-immune disease. Vaccination seems to be one of the most effective methods to prevent patients from possible infections, but may be impaired by concomitant immunomodulators. The aim of this review was to evaluate the effect of immunosuppressive drugs on vaccination efficiency.

Adherence to biologic disease-modifying antirheumatic drugs in adult patients with rheumatic diseases.

Introduction: The emergence of biologics has revolutionized the management of refractory rheumatic diseases (RD) by improving clinical outcomes. Unfortunately, the impact of non-adherence to the emerging therapy can limit their potential benefit. The objective of our study was to evaluate biologics' adherence in Tunisian patients with RD and to assess the determinants of non-adherence.

[The changing face of rheumatoid arthritis].

Rheumatoid arthritis (RA) is a heterogeneous disease in terms of presentation and evolution. In recent years, a change in the face of this disease has been noticed. RA appears to be less lethal than before, with a larger decline in cardiovascular mortality.

Entheses ultrasound assessment in primary Sjogren's syndrome.

Objective: Musculoskeletal pain is a common complaint among patients with primary Sjogren's syndrome (pSS). Joints clinical examination is oftenly normal. A periarticular origin of this pain may be possible.

Association of pulmonary silicosis and systemic sclerosis.

The Erasmus syndrome describes the association of generalised systemic sclerosis following exposure to silica with or without silicosis. This is a case report on a male patient presenting with this syndrome. Radiological changes of silicosis have preceded the diagnosis of systemic sclerosis by 6 years and occupational exposure has been stopped.

Comparison of the clinical effectiveness of thermal cure and rehabilitation in knee osteoarthritis. A randomized therapeutic trial.

Objective: To compare the benefits of a thermal cure and non-thermal rehabilitation in treatment of knee osteoarthritis (KOA).

Methods: Randomized therapeutic trial including patients with knee osteoarthritis (American College of Rheumatology criteria). Patients were randomly divided into two groups.

Takayasu's arteritis occurring under TNF-α blockers: a new paradoxical effect?

Takayasu's arteritis (TA) is a rare granulomatous vasculitic disease. Recently, experimental studies and several case reports have supported the use of anti-tumour necrosis factor (TNF) therapy for severe forms of TA. We report a case of a 58-year-old woman who was followed for spondyloarthritis.

Role of ultrasound in assessing remission in rheumatoid arthritis.

Introduction: Remission is the ultimate goal of the treatment of rheumatoid arthritis (RA). However, the diagnosis of remission might still be vague. Musculoskeletal ultrasound (US) seems to effectively assess synovitis, effusion and bone damage.

Possible macrophage activation syndrome following initiation of adalimumab in a patient with adult-onset Still's disease.

Macrophage activation syndrome (MAS) has been rarely reported in the course of adult-onset Still's disease (AOSD) and in the majority of cases, it was triggered by an infection. Here, we report, to our knowledge, the first case of MAS occurring after adalimumab treatment initiation and not triggered by an infection. A 26-yearold woman with classical features of AOSD developed persistent fever, severe bicytopenia associated with extreme hyperferritinemia, hyponatremia and abnormal liver function tow months after the initiation of adalimumab treatment.

Reactive arthritis induced by intravesical BCG therapy for bladder cancer.

Cancers of the bladder could be treated with intravesical instillation of BCG therapy. This treatment could lead to some complications. Osteoarticular ones are relatively uncommon.