Infectious agents in arthritis and autoimmunity.

Abstract  The distinctions between infection, chronic arthritis, and autoimmune diseases have steadily blurred over the past decades. The proposed pathomechanisms underlying these interesting associations include putative pathways from infection to innate and adaptive immunity, molecular mimicry, and certain microbial and host factors. This article further reviews the spectrum of microbial agents implicated in some rheumatic diseases and cites the potential clinical application of this expanding field of knowledge in the prevention and treatment of chronic inflammatory and autoimmune diseases.

Popliteal arterial hemorrhage in a chronic renal failure patient with destructive arthropathy.

Popliteal arterial hemorrhage is a rare but potentially devastating complication of markedly deformed joints. This report describes a 57-year-old Filipino man with chronic renal failure and destructive arthropathy caused by crystal deposition and /or a neuropathic joint, who presented with the complication of acute popliteal arterial hemorrhage. The case illustrates a rare combination of articular diseases underlying a completely altered joint structure and biomechanics, resulting in an acute popliteal arterial tear and hemorrhage.

Tuberculosis among Filipino patients with systemic lupus erythematosus.

A retrospective review of the clinical records of 54 patients with systemic lupus erythematosus (SLE) and documented tuberculosis (TB) infection seen at the University of Santo Tomas Hospital was accomplished. There were 53 women and one man, with a mean age of 32.2 +/- 10 years and a total of 57 TB occurrences.