Rheumatoid Arthritis: Legouffe MC

Roch-Bras F, Daurès JP, Legouffe MC, Sany J, Combe B. · Fédération de Rhumatologie, CHU Lapeyronie, Montpellier, France. · J Rheumatol. · Pubmed #12064830 No free full text.

Abstract: OBJECTIVE: We examined the longterm results of arthroscopic synovectomy in chronic knee synovitis of rheumatoid arthritis (RA). METHODS: Forty-one knees of 38 patients (30 women, 8 men), mean age of 42.7 +/- 15.3 years, were evaluated clinically and radiographically at a mean 8.9 years (range 5.0-12.3) after arthroscopic synovectomy. Arthroscopic synovectomies were always performed with a shaver by the same physician after failure of at least one radioactive or chemical synovectomy. Radiographs were blindly read by 2 examiners. RESULTS: At the final evaluation, the clinical results (pain, range of motion, recurrent effusion) were good in 29 cases (70.7%) and poor in 12 cases (knee arthroplasty was required in 11 cases). Radiographs highlighted significant progression of joint damage (more than one Larsen score grade) in 16 knees (39.0%). No radiographically detectable change was observed in 12 cases (29.3%), and 11 knees (26.8%) had a change of only one Larsen score grade. There was a close correlation between the Larsen score at final examination and both Larsen score and arthroscopic score for cartilage damage at baseline. Only 4 knees (22%) with grade 0 or I on preoperative radiographs had significant progression of joint damage, compared to 12 knees (57%) with Larsen scores of 2 or 3 at baseline. CONCLUSION: These data suggest that arthroscopic synovectomy is a useful alternative treatment for chronic knee synovitis in RA after failure of radiation or chemosynovectomy, and that less severely damaged joints deteriorate less rapidly after synovectomy.

Morel J, Legouffe MC, Bozonat MC, Sany J, Eliaou JF, Daurès JP, Combe B. · Lapeyronie Hospital, Montpellier, France. · Joint Bone Spine. · Pubmed #10773968 No free full text.

Abstract: OBJECTIVE: To determine outcomes in patients with onset within the last year of peripheral inflammatory arthritis that does not meet classification criteria for any specific disease. METHODS: Symptoms and laboratory tests were evaluated at baseline and 14 to 60 months later in 43 patients, 32 women and 11 men, with a mean age of 50 years. RESULTS: At baseline, a presumptive clinical diagnosis was made in 16 of the 43 patients. Diagnoses at last follow-up were undifferentiated inflammatory arthritis in seven cases, mild rheumatoid arthritis in 18, psoriatic arthritis in two, Sjögren's syndrome in two, lupus in one, and paraneoplastic syndrome in one. The remaining 12 patients were free of inflammatory joint symptoms; three had symptoms of osteoarthritis and nine were asymptomatic. Factors present at baseline and predictive of progression to definite rheumatoid arthritis were a positive test for rheumatoid factor, presence of an HLA DRB1*04 allele, and a presumptive clinical diagnosis of rheumatoid arthritis. CONCLUSION: 55% of our patients developed a specific inflammatory joint disease, and 42% developed rheumatoid arthritis, which was consistently mild. Resolution of all inflammatory joint symptoms occurred in 28% of cases. A number of clinical laboratory, and genetic findings of use for predicting the outcome of undifferentiated arthritis were identified.