The semeiology of arthritis: discriminating between patients on the basis of their symptoms

Article Abstract:

The development of a questionnaire based on symptom descriptions may be helpful in distinguishing patients with various inflammatory diseases. Researchers asked 250 patients with either rheumatoid arthritis (RA), osteoarthritis (OA), ankylosing spondylitis (AS), or fibromyalgia (FM) and 50 medical professionals to categorize 28 descriptive words under 8 broad symptom category headings. They asked patients to underline the words that describe their own symptoms. There was significant agreement among the patients and medical professionals about what descriptive words belong under each symptom heading. The questionnaire could distinguish patients with RA from those with FM or AS based on the patients' underlined symptoms. However, distinguishing patients with RA from those with OA was difficult due to significant duplication in underlined symptoms. Patients with FM used the most words to describe their symptoms (12) and most often used words from the pain category.

Surveys, Osteoarthritis, Identification and classification, Arthritis, Fibromyalgia

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Relation between heel position and the distribution of forefoot plantar pressures and skin callosities in rheumatoid arthritis

Article Abstract:

The deformities seen in some heels of patients with rheumatoid arthritis may influence the pressure patterns throughout the foot. The feet of 102 patients with rheumatoid arthritis and 42 healthy volunteers were analyzed for pressure and callous patterns. The 84 misaligned feet among the rheumatoid patients had the lowest pressure patterns. The front portion of these patients' deformed feet carried most of their weight while portions of their feet were not bearing any weight. Patients in this group also had more calluses although the pressure points did not directly correspond to these calluses.

Abnormalities, Complications and side effects, Physiological aspects, Heel bone, Heel, Gait disorders

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Do the radiological changes of classic ankylosing spondylitis differ from the changes found in the spondylitis associated with inflammatory bowel disease, psoriasis, and reactive arthritis?

Article Abstract:

Ankylosing spondylitis and spondylitis related to other conditions may appear different on spinal x-rays. Inflammatory arthritic changes in the spine may be associated with several diseases. Researchers examined radiographs from 91 patients with ankylosing spondylitis and 72 patients with spondylitis associated with bowel disease, psoriasis, postdysenteric arthritis, or reactive arthritis. Specific spondylitides were associated with differing symmetries of lumbar spinal inflammation, sacroiliitis, and the development of syndesmophytes, bony growths on the intervertebral discs.

Spondyloarthropathies, Spine

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