[Contribution of dynamic radiographs in atlantoaxial subluxation in rheumatoid arthritis].

Background: Cervical spine (CS) involvement is common during rheumatoid arthritis (RA) and it is distinguished by its potential gravity.

Aim: To determinate the occurrence of atlantoaxial subluxation (AAS) by dynamic incidences X-Ray and to assess its predictive factors.

Methods: Our study included a cohort of 40 patients carrying RA, who fulfilled the American College of Rheumatology criteria, for more than 2 years.

[Survival prognosis factors in multiple myeloma].

Background: Outcome in multiple myeloma (MM) is very heterogeneous in survival and therapeutic response, constantly fatale despite her therapy progress.

Aim: To determine the prognostic factors and survival in MM.

Methods: We carried out a transversal study of 100 patients in the rheumatology department of hospital Monastir between 1991 and 2010.

[Prevalence of bone loss in adult celiac disease and associated factors: a control case study].

Background: Bone loss in celiac disease (CD) is important and is associated to increased risk of fractures. The determining factors of this Bone loss and the osteoporosis fracture during this disease remain still unknown. The bone remodeling parameters seem to play it an important role.

Lipid profile in Tunisian patients with rheumatoid arthritis.

This study aims to assess the prevalence of dyslipidaemia in Tunisian patients with active RA and to investigate the clinical and biological associated factors. A cross-sectional study was conducted on 92 unselected patients with active RA (77 females and 15 males, aged 49.1 ± 12.

[Ochronosis: report of two familial cases].

Background: Ochronosis of alkaptonuria is a rare hereditary autosomal recessive disease in which there is an absence of homogentisic acid oxidase resulting in accumulation of homogentisic acid in tissues.

Aim: To report a new case of alkaptonuria

Case Report: A 49-year-old man had been followed for 4 years for chronic lombalgia and arthropaty of two knees. He is married to his cousin and father of 4 girls.

[The fracture risk assessment tool (FRAXTM), where are we in Tunisia?].

Background: The fracture risk assessment tool (FRAXTM), published in February 2008, is developed based on the use of clinical risk factors with or without bone mineral density tests.

Aim: To calculate the FRAX tool in a cohort of Tunisian patients in whom bone mineral density (BMD) was assessed by dual X ray absorptiometry (DXA); to correlate this score to osteoporotic fracture and to BMD assessment and to propose a threshold for therapeutic intervention.

Methods: In a cross sectional study of 582 patients older than 40 years, in whom a BMD measurement by DXA has been performed between January 2006 and December 2009, clinical risk factor for osteoporotic fracture and the occurrence of a prior fragility fracture were assessed.

Socioeconomic impact of ankylosing spondylitis in Tunisia.

Objective: Ankylosing spondylitis (AS) is the second most common chronic inflammatory joint disease after rheumatoid arthritis and causes substantial functional impairment, two features that generate a heavy socioeconomic burden. Here, our objective was to assess the socioeconomic impact of AS and to identify factors associated with higher costs.

Patients And Methods: We retrospectively reviewed the medical charts of 50 patients with AS seen at the Monastir Public Health Service Hospital over the 6-month period from March to September 2006.

An autosomal dominant hypophosphatemic rickets phenotype in a Tunisian family caused by a new FGF23 missense mutation.

Autosomal dominant hypophosphatemic rickets (ADHR) is a rare disease, characterized by isolated renal phosphate wasting, hypophosphatemia, and inappropriately normal 1,25-dihydroxyvitamin D(3) (calcitriol) levels. This syndrome involves rickets with bone deformities in childhood and osteomalacia, osteoporosis, articular and para-articular pain, and fatigue in adulthood. It is caused by mutations in a consensus sequence for proteolytic cleavage of the FGF23 protein.

[Usefulness of ultrasonography for the diagnosis of carpal tunnel syndrome].

Background: Ultrasound is an emerging tool in the diagnosis of carpal tunnel syndrome (CTS). THE AIM of this study is to evaluate the diagnostic role of ultrasound n the CTS.

Methods: Twenty five patients with signs and positive electromyographic of CTS were evaluated with ultrasound.

Compared imaging of the rheumatoid cervical spine: prevalence study and associated factors.

Introduction: Cervical spine involvement is common and potentially severe in patients with rheumatoid arthritis (RA). The objectives of this study were to compare the prevalences of cervical spine abnormalities detected by standard radiography, computed tomography (CT), and magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) in patients with RA; and to identify factors associated with cervical spine involvement.

Methods: We studied 40 patients who met American College of Rheumatology criteria for RA and had disease durations of 2 years or more.

[Sciatica due to unusual causes: Tarlov cysts and nerve roots anomalies].

Tarlov cysts and nerve roots anomalies usually involve lumbosacral roots and are often asymptomatic. MRI has enabled recognition of many conditions that used to be missed by CT or myelography investigations performed for back and leg pain. However, even without additional compressive impingement (disc hernia, spondylolisthesis or lumbar canal stenosis) these anomalies can be responsible for sciatica, motor deficit and bladder sphincter dysfunction.

Complete reversal of tumoral calcinosis after subtotal parathyroidectomy in a hemodialysis patient.

Introduction: Tumoral calcinosis is a rare complication of chronic hemodialysis whose mechanism is incompletely understood. The treatment is challenging and should target the main precipitating factors, most notably secondary hyperparathyroidism and calcium-phosphate (Ca x P) product elevation.

Case Report: In this 41-year-old patient, tumoral calcinosis developed in the right hip and subacromial bursa of the right shoulder after 3 years of chronic hemodialysis.

[Multifocal tuberculous dactylitis: a case report].

Introduction: Tuberculous dactylitis (TD) is a rare disorder. It is the source of a diagnostic hardship as it is difficult to distinguish from other lesions. We report an unusual case with multiple affected sites both in hands and the right big toe.

[Cervical myelopathy revealing bone fluorosis].

Bone fluorosis is a rare metabolic disease characterized by massive bone fixation of fluorine. It is seen endemically around phosphate mines in North Africa. Neurologic complications, such as medullar compression may rarely reveal the disease.