Rheumatology

Relapsing polychondritis is a rare immune-mediated condition, causing inflammation of cartilage and other structures, and associated with a high mortality. Its heterogenic nature and rarity raises a number of diagnostic and treatment challenges.
(Vol 15 p 1-3, Rheumatology: 9 March 2015)
This report documents a case of embolia cutis medicamentosa after therapeutic injection of neovessels associated with Achilles tendinosis with polidocanol. This condition has not previously been reported as a complication of this procedure.
(Vol 13 p 12-16, Rheumatology; Sports medicine: 6 March 2013)
Beals syndrome is an autosomal-dominant connective tissue disorder, similar in many respects to Marfan syndrome, characterized by multiple flexion contractures, arachnodactyly, severe kyphoscoliosis, abnormal pinnae, and muscular hypoplasia. This relatively new syndrome contrasted with Marfan by much less incidences of eye and heart anomalies and the congenital presence...
(Vol 11 p 115-118, Rheumatology: 28 December 2011)
Knee pain, stiffness and swelling are common complaints. Trauma and osteoarthritis are the most common diagnoses. However, benign and malignant tumours may also present around the knee. These tumours require characterization prior to definitive treatment. Here we describe a rare cause of knee stiffness with a popliteal mass.
(Vol 11 p 44-47, Orthopaedic Surgery; Rheumatology: 14 June 2011)
Pure red cell aplasia (PRCA) is a rare complication of autoimmune rheumatic diseases such as systemic lupus erythematosus (SLE). Thymoma occurs in 5–13% of patients with PRCA and in 2% of patients with SLE. The simultaneous occurrence, however, of all 3 disorders is rare. We report a patient with lupus-like disease who developed PRCA in association with a...
(Vol 11 p 37-40, Haematology; Rheumatology: 14 June 2011)
Neuromyelitis optica (NMO) and systemic inflammatory diseases are not mutually exclusive. Even when other autoantibodies are present, myelitis extending over 3 vertebral segments with NMO-IgG positivity discloses the diagnosis of NMO. We report the case of an isolated myelitis extending over 6 vertebral segments due to neuromyelitis optica (NMO). Despite the absence of...
(Vol 10 p 103-106, Neurology; Rheumatology: 1 December 2010)
Relapse of Wegener granulomatosis (WG) can be associated with occult inflammation and nasal carriage of Staphylococcus aureus. We report a 79-year-old woman who had a recurrent sclerosing orbital pseudotumor, due to limited WG complicated by Streptococcus anginosis abscess. No sinusitis, other localized infection, or systemic disease was identified by physical examination...
(Vol 10 p 95-102, Rheumatology: 1 December 2010)
Remitting seronegative symmetrical synovitis with pitting oedema (RS3PE) is a rare rheumatologic condition frequently missed but easily treated. We describe a case of RS3PE and explore the literature surrounding this arthritis.
(Vol 10 p 71-73, Rheumatology: 22 October 2010)
A case of Epstein–Barr virus (EBV) meningoencephalitis in a 74-year-old white man with rheumatoid arthritis is reported. The potential predisposing factors for EBV meningoencephalitis, the diagnostic approach and the management highlighted by this case are discussed.
(Vol 9 p 49-53, Infection and immunity; Neurology; Rheumatology: 31 December 2009)
(Vol 9 p 18-19, Rheumatology: 1 July 2009)
Subcutaneous nodules are a common clinical finding. Common causes include rheumatoid nodules, gouty tophi, neurofibromatosis type 1, Madelung's disease (benign symmetric lipomatosis), Dercum's disease (adiposis dolorosa) and tuberous xanthomas. Other causes include: hibernoma, lipoblastoma, angiolipoma, liposarcoma, glomus tumour, leiomyoma, eccrine spiradenoma...
(Vol 8 p 4-5, Rheumatology: 29 January 2008)
Connective tissue diseases are associated with granulocyte-specific autoantibodies and autoimmune neutropaenia. Reduced levels of circulating neutrophils may predispose to recurrent infections, particularly of the respiratory tract, although severe and opportunistic infections have also been reported. There is only one previous description of the use of granulocyte colony...
(Vol 7 p 39-41, Rheumatology: 14 May 2007)
Widespread subcutaneous oedema is a rare presenting feature of polymyositis (PM)/dermatomyositis (DM). It was reported in the initial description of the disease by Wagner in 1877 but only nine cases have since been reported in the literature and it is not listed in standard textbooks of rheumatology. We present a further case of subcutaneous oedema as a presenting feature...
(Vol 7 p 21-25, Rheumatology: 1 March 2007)
Penetrating injuries with retained foreign bodies are a frequent cause of synovitis affecting the extremities. The management of plant thorn synovitis raises a number of diagnostic and treatment challenges.
(Vol 7 p 16-17, Rheumatology, Radiology: 20 February 2007)
We report a patient presenting with a seronegative polyarthritis who later developed pyoderma gangrenosum. The presumptive diagnosis was seronegative rheumatoid arthritis and associated pyoderma gangrenosum. However, the arthritis, although steroid responsive, did not respond to treatment with the usual DMARD therapies and appears to mirror the activity of the pyoderma...
(Vol 6 p 1-3, Rheumatology, Dermatology: 1 May 2006)
Paget’s disease of bone is more prevalent in populations of northern European origin and is thought to be rare in non-Caucasians. The population of the east end of London is multi-cultural with 45% from ethnic minorities. We report the case histories of eight non-Caucasian patients with Paget’s disease of bone.
(Vol 5 p 23-25, Rheumatology: April 2005)
Reactive arthritis following upper respiratory tract infections is well known. The usual age group is young adults and management of the arthritis with anti-inflammatory medication is the mainstay of treatment. We present a case of reactive arthritis following tonsillitis, which was successfully treated by tonsillectomy.
(Vol 5 p 8-9, Otolaryngology; rheumatology; general medicine: January 2005)
Sir James Paget’s seminal description of the clinical findings of the bone disease that now bears his name in 1877 holds true today, but his reference to the disease as osteitis deformans, implying an inflammation of the bone, is not accurate, and it is now called osteodystrophia deformans.
(Vol 4 p L18-L19, Landmark Case Report; Rheumatology: November 2004)

Editor-in-Chief

Frank Cross
Consultant Vascular and General Surgeon
The London Clinic, UK

Editors

Neil Barnes
Consultant Physician
Barts Health NHS Trust, London, UK
Ali Jawad
Professor of Rheumatology
Barts Health NHS Trust, London, UK

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