Costs of rheumatoid arthritis in France: a multicenter study of 1109 patients managed by hospital-based rheumatologists.

Objective: The economic impact of rheumatoid arthritis (RA) is substantial, but most studies provide cost estimates specific to a US population. We performed a cost-of-illness analysis of patients with RA for French society.

Methods: A cross-sectional study among rheumatologists in 148 hospitals in France was conducted between November and December 2000.

Bone mineral density and fracture prevalence in long-term kidney graft recipients.

Background: Renal transplantation triggers an early bone loss that increases the subsequent risk of osteoporosis and fractures. Little is known about the long-term outcome of bone status and fracture prevalence several years after transplantation. Therefore, we conducted a cross-sectional evaluation of bone status to find out the frequency and predictors of osteoporotic fractures in late kidney graft patients.

A pilot study on the recovery from paresis after lumbar disc herniation.

Background: Although the existence of a motor defect in discogenic sciatica is a sign of severity, the literature does not provide evidence for an immediate requirement for surgery.

Objective: To assess the course of sciatica with discogenic paresis and to determine possible prognostic factors for recovery or improvement.

Study Design: This open prospective multicenter study included patients with discogenic sciatica with paresis that had been developing for less than 1 month and was rated < or =3 on a 5-grade scale.