Adherence to bisphosphonate therapy in postmenopausal osteoporotic women.

Introduction: Osteoporosis is a metabolic bone disease caused by a decrease in the bone mineral density. It is a major public health threat as it weakens bones, especially those in the wrist, spine, or hip, and causes them to break easily.

Aim: The study aimed to find how strictly postmenopausal women with osteoporosis adhere to a long-term therapy with bisphosphonates.

Raynaud's phenomenon in common rheumatic diseases.

Raynaud's phenomenon (RP) is caused by a reversible spasm of the smallest arteries and the arterioles of the fingers and toes. Two forms of RP have been described: primary and secondary. Secondary RP is often present in patients with rheumatic diseases.

Indirect immunofluorescent assay for antinuclear antibodies on McCoy-Plovdiv serum-free cell line substrate.

Indirect immunofluorescent assay for antinuclear antibodies (IIFA-ANA) on HEp-2 cell substrate is a widely used test for diagnosis of connective tissue diseases. Recently, serum-free fibroblast cell line McCoy-Plovdiv has been developed to provide an alternative substrate. The aim of the present study was to evaluate the diagnostic performance of IIFA-ANA on McCoy-Plovdiv cell substrate for systemic lupus erythematosus (SLE) and rheumatoid arthritis (RA) and compare it with that of the standard HEp-2 cell substrate.

The macrophage activation syndrome: a new entity, a potentially fatal complication of rheumatic disorders.

To review the precipitating events, clinical feature, treatment and outcome of macrophage activation syndrome (MAS). Activation of macrophages resulting from the secondary hemophagocytic syndrome is a rarely reported complication. It was first described in rheumatic diseases in children.

Treatment of knee osteoarthritis by arthroscopic synovectomy and debridement of cartilage lesions--late results.

Unlabelled: Osteoarthritis (OA) is accompanied by degeneration and destruction of the articular cartilage, development of inflammatory process in the synovial membrane and periarticular tissues. Despite the introduction of new modern medications, the articular inflammatory changes often progress and therapy gives only a transitory improvement. Arthroscopic synovectomy (AS) in knee OA combined with resection of the cartilage lesions is a mild operative procedure and is not associated with postoperative joint stiffness and necessity of continuous rehabilitation.

Correlations between arthroscopic findings and synovial membrane histology in patients with rheumatoid synovitis of the knee joint.

Unlabelled: Correlation and agreement between the diagnostic results of arthroscopic and histological examinations of the synovial membrane in rheumatoid synovitis of the knee joint have been discussed in small number of studies with contradictory conclusions.

Aim: The aim of the present study was to determine the correlation between the arthroscopic characteristics and histology of the synovial membrane in patients with rheumatoid arthritis and synovitis of the knee joint.

Methods: Sixty-four arthroscopies of the knee joint with guided multiple synovial biopsies were performed in patients with rheumatoid synovitis.

Minor and major complications of arthroscopic synovectomy of the knee joint performed by rheumatologist.

Unlabelled: The aim of the study was to analyze the type and incidence of major and minor complications resulting from arthroscopy with arthroscopic synovectomy of the knee joint performed by rheumatologist in different rheumatological diseases.

Methods: In a prospective study the incidence of complications in arthroscopic subtotal synovectomy with subsequent tidal flow lavage was analyzed in 201 rheumatic patients. The arthroscopic synovectomies were performed by one team of rheumatologists in the operation room of the University Clinic of Rheumatology in the town of Plovdiv for a period of 8-9 years.

Arthroscopic treatment of rheumatoid synovitis.

Unlabelled: Arthroscopic synovectomy (AS) as a therapeutic modality in the treatment of chronic rheumatoid synovitis of the knee joint refractory to disease-modifying anti-rheumatic drugs (DMARDs) still enjoys an unflagging interest. Synovectomy has a lasting beneficial effect on the local manifestations of the rheumatoid inflammation. The purpose of the study was to evaluate the long-term results of arthroscopic synovectomy of knee joint combined with tidal lavage in patients with chronic rheumatoid synovitis included in a 5-year prospective study.

Leflunomide in the treatment of refractory rheumatoid arthritis.

Unlabelled: Leflunomide (LFL) is a modern immunomodulating medication belonging to the group of drugs that favourably affect the course of rheumatoid arthritis (RA). We present in this study the results of an open prospective trial on the effectiveness and side effects of LFL in clinically followed up patients with active RA refractory to other disease modifying anti-rheumatic drugs (DMARDS). At the onset of treatment with LFL the patients had at least 8 swollen and tender joints, the disease severity being assessed by both patients and physicians as over 3 cm VAS.

Serologic markers of early rheumatoid arthritis.

Rheumatoid arthritis (RA) is a chronic autoimmune disease that affects symmetrically multiple joints. Recent therapeutic strategy has been focusing on the symptoms of the disease and the ways to prevent its progression as early as possible. Thus, early diagnosis is crucial since early therapy with disease-modifying anti-rheumatic drugs reduces the severity of joint damage.