Rheumatoid Arthritis: Benbouazza K

Atouf O, Benbouazza K, Brick C, Bzami F, Bennani N, Amine B, Hajjaj-Hassouni N, Hajja-Hassouni N, Essakali M. · Service de transfusion sanguine et d'hémovigilance, Unité d'Immunologie, CHU Ibn Sina, Rabat, Moroco. · Joint Bone Spine. · Pubmed #18801688 No free full text.

Abstract: OBJECTIVES: Rheumatoid arthritis (RA) is an autoimmune multifactorial disease which has a great socio-economic impact in Morocco. The association of HLA genes with RA was studied in various ethnic groups but not in the Moroccan population. Our study focused on evaluating the distribution of class I and class II HLA genes among Moroccan patients presenting early signs of RA. METHODS: Forty nine patients diagnosed with early RA were compared to a group of healthy controls matched by age, sex, and ethnic origin. Among the patient group, 34 were seropositive (presence of the rheumatoid factor). HLA typing of the patients and the controls was performed using microlymphocytotoxicity for class I (A and B) and PCR-SSP for class II (DR and DQ). RESULTS: We found a significant increase of the frequency of the HLA-A24 antigen (p=0.03), the DRB1*04 (p=0.004) and DQB1*03 (p=0.03) alleles and a significant decrease of the DRB1*07 allele (p=0.03) in seropositive patients. The analysis of the frequency of the DRB1*01, DRB1*10, and DRB1*14 alleles did not show any difference between the RA patients and the controls. The frequency of DR4-DQ2 and DR4-DQ4 haplotypes was increased in the patients compared to the controls while that of DR7-DQ2 and DR13-DQ6 was decreased. CONCLUSIONS: Our study suggests that DRB1*04 predisposes to RA while DRB1*07 seems protective for the Moroccan patients population. In addition we show the influence of some haplotypes DR-DQ in the susceptibility and protection against the disease.

Amine B, Rostom S, Benbouazza K, Abouqal R, Hajjaj-Hassouni N. · el ayachi hospital, Salé, Morocco. · Rheumatol Int. · Pubmed #18690442 No free full text.

Abstract: This study aimed to investigate the proxy-reported Health related quality of life (HRQOL) and its determinants in patients with juvenile idiopathic arthritis (JIA). It was hypothesized that HRQOL would decrease with worsening disease and disability. Data were available in cross-sectional study on children and adolescents with JIA according to the ILAR criteria. Patient demographics, type of JIA, clinical determinants and laboratory parameters relating to JIA were obtained for each patient. Functional disability was assessed using the parent's or children's version of the child health assessment questionnaire (CHAQ). The HRQOL was evaluated using the juvenile arthritis quality of life questionnaire (JAQQ). These questionnaires were previously translated and validated in Moroccan children. A total of 80 participants were enrolled with mean age of 11 [6-17 years], and female predominance (59%). Many patients (42.5%) had oligoarticular subtype; 31.3% polyarticular subtypes and 26.2% systemic form. The mean global score of JAQQ was 2.6 +/- 1.3 (1-6). Patients with persistant oligoarticular had better gross motor function (P < 0.0001), better fine motor function (P < 0.0001), less psychosocial impact (P = 0.001), and less symptoms (P = 0.001) in comparison with polyarticular and systemic subtypes. The HRQOL assessed by the JAQQ was worse in adolescent patients in comparison with children except for symptoms (P = 0.15). The gender (P = 0.95), age at onset of JIA (P = 0.81), and evolution duration (P = 0.34) were not correlated with global score of JAQQ. The diagnosis delay was significantly associated with decrease of HRQOL (P = 0.001). The decrease of HRQOL was correlated with disease activity [pain (VAS), painful and swollen joints, erythrocyte sedimentation rate (for P < 0.0001)], with disability index (CHAQ) (P = 0.001) and presence of hip involvement (P = 0.01). This study suggests that JIA can have a significant adverse effect on the HRQOL of moroccan patients, particularly adolescents with polyarticular and systemic subtypes. Disease duration, disability score (CHAQ) and pain were the strongest determinants of poorer HRQOL.

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.

Benbouazza K, Bahiri R, Krami HE, Allali F, Bezza A, Bennani A, Hajjaj-Hassouni N. · Rheumatology B Department, El Ayachi Hospital, Morocco. · Rev Rhum Engl Ed. · Pubmed #10649612 No free full text.

Abstract: Erosive polyarthritis in Crohn's disease is rare and raises diagnostic and pathophysiological problems. A case with destructive lesions of the shoulders and hips is reported in a 43-year-old woman with a 26-year history of Crohn's disease. Ankylosis of the spine and hips, motion range limitation of the shoulders and wrists, and boutonnière deformity of the third finger of the right hand were present. Tests were negative for rheumatoid factor and the HLA-B27 antigen. Plain radiographs showed a triple rail pattern at the spine; synostosis of the hips; and destructive lesions of the shoulders, wrists, tarsal bones, and third proximal interphalangeal joint of the right hand. Glucocorticoid therapy was effective in suppressing the bowel symptom flares but only partially improved the joint symptoms, whose treatment relied mainly on nonsteroidal antiinflammatory agents and rehabilitation therapy. Erosive arthritis in Crohn's disease is frequently monoarticular, with the hip being the most common target. It can complicate a spondylarthropathy or reveal granulomatous synovitis. Polyarticular forms pose difficult diagnostic and therapeutic challenges and add to the disability caused by the bowel disease. The potential role of genetic factors remains to be studied.

Saoud B, Bahiri R, Benbouazza K, Bzami F, Guedira N, Hajjaj-Hassouni N. · No affiliation provided · Joint Bone Spine. · Pubmed #16226045 No free full text.

This publication has no abstract.

Benbouazza K, Harzy T, Guedira N, Hajja-Hassouni N. · No affiliation provided · Joint Bone Spine. · Pubmed #12639629 No free full text.

This publication has no abstract.