Rheumatoid Arthritis: Nava A

Vargas A, Vargas A, Hernández-Paz R, Sánchez-Huerta JM, Romero-Ramírez R, Amezcua-Guerra L, Kooh M, Nava A, Pineda C, Rodríguez-Leal G, Martínez-Lavín M. · National Institute of Cardiology, ISSSTE Hospital Leon, Autonomous University of Puebla and Medica Sur., Mexico. · J Clin Rheumatol. · Pubmed #17149055 No free full text.

Abstract: BACKGROUND: One of the 2 classification criteria for fibromyalgia (FM) is the presence of tender points on specific anatomic sites. It has been established that these tender points reflect a state of generalized allodynia (defined as pain resulting from a stimulus that does not normally provoke pain). Patients with FM often describe pain elicitation during blood pressure testing (sphygmomanometry). OBJECTIVE: The objective of this study was to define if a universally used clinical test, sphygmomanometry, is helpful in the identification of patients with FM. METHODS: The authors conducted a prospective multicenter study in 3 different public rheumatology outpatient services. Each center studied 20 patients with FM, 20 with rheumatoid arthritis, 20 with osteoarthritis, and 20 healthy individuals. The following question was asked of each participant: "When I take your blood pressure, tell me if the cuff's pressure brings forth pain." The blood pressure cuff was inflated at an approximate rate of 10 mm Hg per second up to 180 mm Hg or to the point when pain was elicited. RESULTS: Sixty-nine percent of patients with FM had sphygmomanometry-evoked allodynia in contrast to 10% of patients with osteoarthritis, 5% with rheumatoid arthritis, and 2% of healthy individuals (P < 0.001). The mean blood pressure value at which allodynia was elicited was lower in patients with FM (143 +/- 40 mm Hg) when compared with the other 3 groups (176 +/- 11 mm Hg) or higher (P < 0.001). In patients with FM, there was a significant negative correlation between the blood pressure value at which allodynia developed and total Fibromyalgia Impact Questionnaire (FIQ) score, number of tender points, and the FIQ visual analog scales for pain intensity and fatigue (P < 0.05). The test yields a diagnostic sensitivity for FM of 0.7, specificity 0.96, positive predictive value 0.86, and negative predictive value 0.91. CONCLUSIONS: In this developmental study of patients attending rheumatology clinics, the generation of pain during blood pressure testing was strongly associated with the diagnosis of FM. This robust linkage probably reflects a tautologic phenomenon. A sine qua nonelement for FM diagnosis is the presence of tender points in discrete anatomic sites. These tender points in turn reflect a state of generalized mechanical allodynia that can be locally elicited by the cuff pressure during blood pressure testing. Sphygmomanometry is a simple bedside test that may be useful in the recognition of patients with FM. Blood pressure testing is a universal procedure in all clinical environments. Based on our results, we suggest searching for FM features in any person who has sphygmomanometry-evoked allodynia.

Massardo L, Suárez-Almazor ME, Cardiel MH, Nava A, Levy RA, Laurindo I, Soriano ER, Acevedo-Vázquez E, Millán A, Pineda-Villaseñor C, Galarza-Maldonado C, Caballero-Uribe CV, Espinosa-Morales R, Pons-Estel BA. · Departamento de Inmunología Clínica y Reumatología, Facultad de Medicina, Pontificia Universidad Católica de Chile, Santiago, Chile. · J Clin Rheumatol. · Pubmed #19502907 No free full text.

Abstract: OBJECTIVE: A consensus meeting of representatives of 18 Latin-American and Caribbean countries gathered in Reñaca, Chile, for 2 days to identify problems and provide recommendations for the care of patients with rheumatoid arthritis (RA) in Latin America, a region where poverty and other health priorities make the efforts to provide effective and high quality care difficult. This report includes recommendations for health professionals, patients, and health authorities in Latin America, with an emphasis on education and therapeutic issues. METHODS: Fifty-one rheumatologists (list available only online on the JCR website) from 18 Latin-American and Caribbean countries with a special interest in RA participated in the consensus meeting. Participants were experts identified and appointed by the National Societies of Rheumatology affiliated with the Pan-American League of Associations for Rheumatology (PANLAR) and by the Grupo Latino Americano De Estudio de Artritis Reumatoide (GLADAR)-an independent group of Latin American rheumatologist researchers were also invited to the meeting. Eight topics were identified as priorities: patient, community and allied health professional education, health policy and decision making, programs for early detection and appropriate treatment of RA, role of classic disease modifying antirheumatic drugs (DMARDs), role of biologic therapy, and drug safety surveillance. To reach consensus, a survey with questions relevant to the topic of interest was sent to all participants before the meeting. During a 2 day meeting, the answers of the survey were reviewed and discussed by each group, with final recommendations on action items. RESULTS: The specific topic of the survey was answered by 86% of the participants and 68% of them answered the entire survey. It was agreed that RA and rheumatic diseases which are currently not but should be public health priorities in Latin America, because of their prevalence and impact on quality of life. CONCLUSIONS: Strategic areas identified as priorities for our region included: early diagnosis and access to care by multidisciplinary teams, creation of databases to identify infections with the use of biologic agents in RA which are relevant to Latin America, and overall efforts to improve the care of RA patients in accordance with international standards. Implementation of educational programs aimed to improve self-management for patients with RA was also considered crucial.

Cabrera Pivaral CE, Gutiérrez González TY, Gámez Nava JI, Nava A, Villa Manzano AI, Luce González E. · Hospital de Especialidades, Centro Médico Nacional de Occidente, Guadalajara, México. · Rev Alerg Mex. · Pubmed #19374160 No free full text.

Abstract: OBJECTIVE: To evaluate the competence of the primary care physicians for the evaluation of rheumatic disorders. PARTICIPANTS AND METHODS: In a cross-sectional survey we included primary care physicians working at the official Mexican Social Security Institute that provides nation-wide health-care for salaried workers. Four hospitals from 23 potentially eligible primary-care hospitals in Guadalajara, Jalisco, Mexico, were randomly selected. From these hospitals the physicians who agree to participate were asked to answer a questionnaire for clinical competence. Using a Delphi modified approach; this questionnaire was elaborated by a group of rheumatologists and researchers working in continuous medical education. A Kuder-Richardson reliability index was computed in 0.94. The diseases included in the questionnaire were: (1) rheumatoid arthritis, (2) Sjogren syndrome, 3) gout, 4) osteoarthritis and 5) systemic lupus erythematosus and questions regarding to these were made using the technique of "representative patients". Domains included in the questionnaire were: assessment of risk factors, strategies for diagnosis, and treatment. According to the scores obtained in the questionnaire the ranges for clinical competence were: very high level 93-110 points, high level 75-92, moderate 57-74, low 39-56, very low 21-38 and <20 points was considered obtained by chance. RESULTS: One-hundred and four primary care physicians were interviewed. From the total, 60 (58%) physicians had the speciality of family physician. Only 11% (95% CI 5-17) of the interviewed had a high level of competence according to the instrument. Moderate competence was achieved by 20% (95% CI 13-27), whereas suboptimal levels had 51%: being low 31% (95% CI 22-40), very low 20% (95% CI 13-27). An additional 18% had scores obtained by chance (95% CI 11-25). There was no statistical difference in the scores between physicians with or without the specialty in family medicine. CONCLUSIONS: These results pointed-out a sub-optimal competence in a significant proportion of the primary care-physicians attending rheumatic disorders. Higher efforts need to be made to increase the levels of competence and improve the effectiveness of continuous medical education for these physicians.

Zavala-Cerna MG, Nava A, García-Castañeda E, Durán-González J, Arias-Merino MJ, Salazar-Páramo M. · Unidad de Investigación Médica en Epidemiología Clínica, UMAE, HE, CMNO, IMSS, Guadalajara, Jalisco, México. · Rheumatol Int. · Pubmed #18253737 No free full text.

Abstract: The purpose of this study was to evaluate the frequency of seric antibodies against cyclic citrullinated peptide (a-CCP) in patients tested for rheumatoid factor (RF) reactivity, and to analyze the correlation between their titers. We obtained serum from 112 consecutive patients (85 female), aged 47.2 +/- 13.4 years and from 46 clinically healthy subjects (CHS). Patients where stratified into four subgroups: rheumatoid arthritis (RA), probable RA (PRA), spondylarthropathies and other diagnosis. The a-CCP antibodies were determined by enzyme linked immunoassay (ELISA), RF by nephelometric test (IgM) and ELISA (IgG and IgM). Analysis of variance (ANOVA) showed statistically that a-CCP antibodies differs among RA versus CHS and other diagnosis; PRA versus CHS and other diagnosis. A significant Rho value of 0.84 (P < 0.05, Spearman's correlation) was identified between a-CCP antibodies and RF in PRA subgroup. When a correlation of a-CCP antibodies with RF (both isotypes) was done, the higher correlation was observed against IgM RF. The data suggests different pathways and times for each antibody generation.

Martínez-Lavin M, López S, Medina M, Nava A. · Rheumatology Department, Instituto Nacional de Cardiología Ignacio Chávez, México. · Semin Arthritis Rheum. · Pubmed #12833249 No free full text.

Abstract: OBJECTIVE: Neuropathic pain syndrome is characterized by chronic, stimulus-independent pain sensation accompanied by hyperalgesia/allodynia and paresthesia. Fibromyalgia (FM) syndrome displays such features. The Leeds Assessment of Neuropathic Symptoms and Signs (LANSS) Pain Scale is an instrument developed and validated to recognize neuropathic pain and set it apart from nociceptive pain. METHODS: This study assessed the responses of patients with FM versus patients with rheumatoid arthritis (RA) to the LANSS Pain Scale questionnaire. Twenty patients with FM and 20 patients with RA answered the Fibromyalgia Impact Questionnaire and LANSS Pain Scale questions related to the following neuropathic sensory disturbance domains: dysesthetic, autonomic, evoked, paroxysmal, and thermal. RESULTS: Pain severity was similar in both groups according to visual analog scale values (5.3 +/- 3.0 for FM v 5.4 +/- 3.1 for RA). There were sharp differences between FM and RA groups in the percentage of affirmative responses to 4 of 5 sensory disturbance questions: dysesthetic (95 v 30), evoked (95 v 35), paroxysmal (90 v 15), and thermal (90 v 20); P <.0001 for each comparison. CONCLUSIONS: The high prevalence of associated sensory disturbances supports the notion that FM is a neuropathic pain syndrome. Clinical Relevance: The LANSS Pain Scale items may become a useful, easily applied bedside test to differentiate FM pain from the nociceptive pain present in RA and in similar arthritic illnesses.

Martinez-Lavin M, Vidal M, Barbosa RE, Pineda C, Casanova JM, Nava A. · Rheumatology Department Instituto Nacional de Cardiología Ignacio Chávez, Juan Badiano 1, 14080 Mexico D.F. México. · BMC Musculoskelet Disord. · Pubmed #11860612 links to  free full text

Abstract: BACKGROUND: Fibromyalgia syndrome displays sympathetically maintained pain features such as frequent post-traumatic onset and stimuli-independent pain accompanied by allodynia and paresthesias. Heart rate variability studies showed that fibromyalgia patients have changes consistent with ongoing sympathetic hyperactivity. Norepinephrine-evoked pain test is used to assess sympathetically maintained pain syndromes. Our objective was to define if fibromyalgia patients have norepinephrine-evoked pain. METHODS: Prospective double blind controlled study. Participants: Twenty FM patients, and two age/sex matched control groups; 20 rheumatoid arthritis patients and 20 healthy controls. Ten micrograms of norepinephrine diluted in 0.1 ml of saline solution were injected in a forearm. The contrasting substance, 0.1 ml of saline solution alone, was injected in the opposite forearm. Maximum local pain elicited during the 5 minutes post-injection was graded on a visual analog scale (VAS). Norepinephrine-evoked pain was diagnosed when norepinephrine injection induced greater pain than placebo injection. Intensity of norepinephrine-evoked pain was calculated as the difference between norepinephrine minus placebo-induced VAS scores. RESULTS: Norepinephrine-evoked pain was seen in 80 % of FM patients (95% confidence intervals 56.3 - 94.3%), in 30 % of rheumatoid arthritis patients and in 30 % of healthy controls (95% confidence intervals 11.9 - 54.3) (p < 0.05). Intensity of norepinephrine-evoked pain was greater in FM patients (mean +/- SD 2.5 +/- 2.5) when compared to rheumatoid arthritis patients (0.3 +/- 0.7), and healthy controls (0.3 +/- 0.8) p < 0.0001. CONCLUSIONS: Fibromyalgia patients have norepinephrine-evoked pain. This finding supports the hypothesis that fibromyalgia may be a sympathetically maintained pain syndrome.

Senécal JL, Rauch J, Grodzicky T, Raynauld JP, Uthman I, Nava A, Guimond M, Raymond Y. · Hôpital Notre-Dame, Centre Hospitalier de l'Université de Montréal, Quebec, Canada. · Arthritis Rheum. · Pubmed #10403261 links to  free full text

Abstract: OBJECTIVE: To determine the frequency and clinical significance of high titers of IgG autoantibodies to nuclear lamin B1 in a large number of unselected and well-characterized systemic lupus erythematosus (SLE) patients, disease controls, and normal healthy controls. METHODS: A cross-sectional study of anti-lamin B1 autoantibodies, as measured by enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay using human recombinant lamin B1 autoantigen, was performed on serum samples obtained at first evaluation of 238 consecutive French Canadian adults: 61 healthy control subjects, 20 patients with osteoarthritis, 22 with ankylosing spondylitis, 11 with autoimmune hepatitis, 30 with rheumatoid arthritis, and 94 with SLE. SLE patients were studied for 57 disease manifestations. A case-control study was performed to analyze the relationship between anti-lamin B1 status and thrombotic manifestations between SLE onset and last followup. RESULTS: High titers of anti-lamin B1 were strikingly restricted to a subset of 8 SLE patients (8.5%). The mean anti-lamin B1 titer was higher in this subset than in the other SLE patients or any control group (P<0.001). By univariate analysis and stepwise multiple logistic regression, the most striking association of anti-lamin B1 was with lupus anticoagulant (LAC) antibodies (P = 0.00001). Although LAC were significantly associated with thrombosis in our SLE patients, anti-lamin B1 was not. The frequency of thrombosis in SLE patients expressing both LAC and anti-lamin B1 was similar to that in patients without LAC (P = 1.0). However, patients expressing LAC without anti-lamin B1 had a greater frequency of thrombosis (P = 0.018). CONCLUSION: High titers of IgG anti-lamin B1 autoantibodies are highly specific for a subset of SLE patients whose clinical characteristics include the presence of LAC and other laboratory manifestations of the antiphospholipid syndrome. The presence of LAC without anti-lamin B1 may define a subset of SLE patients at greater risk for thrombosis.