Rheumatoid Arthritis: Abourazzak FE

Abourazzak FE, Guggenbuhl P, Perdriger A, Meadeb J, Gando-Cocley N, Chevrant-Breton J, Hajjaj-Hassouni N, Chalès G. · Service de rhumatologie, hôpital El-Ayachi, CHU de Rabat-Salé, 10000 Rabat-Salé, Maroc. · Rev Med Interne. · Pubmed #18676065 No free full text.

Abstract: Therapy with anti-TNFalpha in rheumatoid arthritis may induce autoimmune disorders. Induction of autoantibodies is frequently observed, but lupus-like syndrome is rare and few cases only have been reported. We report a 41-year-old female, treated with etanercept for a rheumatoid arthritis, who developed a cutaneous lupus induced without any other organ involvement, associated with high ANA and DNA antibody titres. The skin biopsy and the histological analysis with immunofluorescence confirmed the diagnosis. The anti-TNFalpha treatment was stopped. Corticosteroids were increased and hydroxychloroquine administered because skin lesions persist after three months.

Abourazzak FE, Benbouazza K, Amine B, Bahiri R, Lazrak N, Bzami F, Jroundi I, Abouqal R, Guillemin F, Hajjaj-Hassouni N. · El Ayachi Hospital, University Hospital of Rabat-Sale, Rabat, Morocco. · Rheumatol Int. · Pubmed #18535829 No free full text.

Abstract: Objective of the study is to test the reliability and validity of a translated version of health assessment questionnaire (HAQ) on Moroccan patients with rheumatoid arthritis (RA). We led a prospective study from July 2004 to September 2005. A total of 100 Moroccan patients were recruited. After translation to dialect Arabic, back translation, expert committee review and pretesting of the questionnaire, it was administered to the selected patients and tested for construct validity, reliability and internal consistency. The construct validity was evaluated by correlating the yield of the questionnaire with other disease activity and severity parameters. The questionnaire was administered again after a time interval of between 2 and 10 days for evaluation of the reliability of this test. All the items were tested for their loyalty to the principal component. The adapted questionnaire showed a good internal consistency. Cronbach's alpha test was 0.994. The test-retest showed a strong reliability with a kappa test ranging from 0.70 to 0.92 for all domains. Intraclass correlation coefficient for the total score was 0.987. The Moroccan HAQ showed a strong validity. It correlates significantly with disease activity and severity parameters. The unidimentionality has been demonstrated. About 71.5% of all variabilities was accounted for by the first principal component. The Moroccan Arabic dialect version of HAQ is a reliable and valid instrument that can be self-administered by Moroccan RA patients to assess their functional disability.