Clinical profile of ankylosing spondylitis patients in Togo

Aim of the workTo determine the clinical characteristics of ankylosing spondylitis (AS) in rheumatology wards in Togo. Patients and methods: The medical records of AS patients in four rheumatology wards in Togo were recorded from January 2000 to December 2019. Results: The study included 37 AS cases out of 35,304 rheumatic diseases patients’ files that were investigated over the preceding 20 years; accounting for 0.1% of hospital cases. Male predominance was noticed with a M:F ratio of 4.3. The mean age at disease onset was 29.6 ± 10.3 years and the mean duration of the symptoms was 9.5 ± 9.2 years. The clinical findings were dominated by spinal pain (91.9%). The main peripheral joints involvements were knees (48.6%) and ankles (35.1%) and the most frequent extra-articular features were ocular with conjunctivitis (13.5%) and uveitis (8.1%) respectively. Plain radiographs of the spine revealed syndesmophytes (45.9%) with bony ankylosis and bamboo spine (21.6%); and that of the pelvis showed sacroiliitis in 89.2%. The human leucocytic antigen (HLA B27) was positive in four cases. Non-steroidal anti-inflammatory drugs (NSAIDs) and sulfasalazine were the most commonly used drugs, respectively in 89.2% and 67.6% of patients. One patient was receiving biologic therapy. Conclusion: Ankylosing spondylitis is relatively rare in Togo. There is no particularity in the clinical features or imaging and laboratory findings. The diagnostic delay reflects the importance of the plain radiograph structural changes. NSAIDs and disease modifying anti-rheumatic drugs (DMARDs) are the cornerstone of the treatment due to their accessibility in Togo.     

人工全髋关节置换术治疗56例强直性脊柱炎的临床研究

[目的]探讨人工全髋关节置换术治疗强直性脊柱炎的疗效。[方法]对56例（98髋）强直性脊柱炎患者行人工全髋关节置换术，其中42例（76髋）进行了平均5．6（2．5～10．5）a的随访。[结果]至末次随访时，Harris评分由术前的平均26．8（4～51）分提高到了术后的平均85．2（55～94）分，优良率为89．5％。1例感染行Ⅱ期翻修；2例在扩髓时出现股骨颈或股骨距裂缝骨折，但未到达小粗隆以下，未予特殊处置；1例出现足下垂，术后3个月后恢复，1例深静脉血栓，余病例无假体松动、断裂以及脱位发生。异位骨化发生率9．2％（7髋），但对功能无明显影响。[结论]人工全髋关节置换术治疗强直性脊柱炎可以明显缓解髋关节疼痛，恢复关节功能，与其它病因的全髋关节置换术相比，并无较高的危险因素。     

强直性脊柱炎患者外周血CD62P的表达

目的探讨剖宫产指征的变化情况，分析影响剖宫产率的因素。方法 回顾性分析1393例剖宫产患者的临床资料。结果2年的平均剖宫产率为66．7％，其中2004年的剖宫产率为59．9％，2005年的剖富产率为72．2％，差异有统计学意义（P〈0．05）。剖宫产率的主要影响因素依次为社会因素（29．43％）、胎儿宫内窘迫（25．13％）、胎位异常（9．62％）、巨大胎儿（7．25％）、中至重度妊娠高血压综合征（6．25％）。结论剖宫产率的上升不只是一个纯医学问题，社会因素使剖宫产指征相对扩大，只有合理掌握剖宫产指征，通过医患双方、社会的共同努力，才能更好地降低剖宫产率。     

强直性脊柱炎股骨近段形态学改变对全髋关节置换术假体选择的意义

目的分析强直性脊柱炎股骨近段的形态学改变,及其改变对全髋关节置换术假体选择的意义。方法1999年1月~2004年6月,将13例(16髋)强直性脊柱炎患者设为选择组,患者均已出现关节强直,需行全髋关节置换术。另16例(19髋)为对照组,为非强直性脊柱炎患者而拟行全髋关节置换术。两组患者均摄髋关节正侧位X线片,测量Singh指数、髓腔张开指数、皮质形态指数及皮质骨指数,并进行统计学分析。结果选择组Singh指数、髓腔张开指数及皮质形态指数分别为3.81±0.54、2.63±0.41及2.02±0.38,对照组分别为4.63±0.62、3.03±0.27及2.76±0.28,两组比较差异均有统计学意义(P<0.05)。选择组皮质骨指数为1.69±0.69,对照组为2.12±0.24,两组比较差异无统计学意义(P>0.05)。选择组患者髓腔呈烟囱型10例13髋,普通型3例3髋;对照组烟囱型3例3髋,普通型13例16髋。结论强直性脊柱炎的全髋关节置换术应采用骨水泥型人工关节假体,并根据患者髓腔形态使用定制型骨水泥假体,以达到更好的近段固定效果。对于有严重骨质疏松者应按关节翻修术处理。     

驼背二种截骨术远期效果对比

作者对６３２例强直性脊柱炎并驼背畸形施行二种脊柱截骨矫治术，对其中１３５例病人进行了６～１０年观察，结果表明：７１例椎弓椎体联合截骨效果较好，驼背复发平均３．２°。而６４例椎板截骨效果略差，驼背平均复发１３．５°。经统计学处理，两者对比有显著的统计学意义（ｐ＜０．０１）。作者认为病变未完全静止，截骨术式的选择，术中身体重心前移未彻底纠正，以及外固定时间过短等是影响远期效果的因素。     

Phenotypes and spontaneous cell cytotoxicity of mononuclear cells from patients with seronegative spondyloarthropathies: Ankylosing spondylitis,psoriatic arthropathy and pauciarticular juvenile chronic arthritis — Analysis of mononuclear cells from peripheral blood,synovial fluid and synovial membranes

Summary T-cell subpopulations and natural killer (NK) cells from peripheral blood, synovial fluid and synovial membranes from patients with seronegative spondyloarthropathies were investigated. Thirty-four patients with ankylosing spondylitis, sixteen patients with psoriatic arthropathy and six patients with pauciarticular juvenile chronic arthritis were studied. All the patient groups had normal proportions of T4⁺ and T8⁺ cells as well as normal T4/T8 ratios in peripheral blood. In the synovial fluids the T4/T8 ratios were reduced in ankylosing spondylitis and psoriatic arthropathy (p<0.05). Although both the T4 and T8 subpopulations were reduced, the T4/T8 ratios in the synovial membranes of patients with these two disorders tended to be within the normal range of that of peripheral blood. Increased numbers of T-cells in the synovial fluid from patients with ankylosing spondylitis expressed class II MHC antigens. The natural killer cell activity was normal in peripheral blood and synovial fluids of patients with ankylosing spondylitis and psoriatic arthropathy while it tended to be reduced, although not significantly, in pauciarticular juvenile chronic arthritis. Synovial membranes were almost devoid of NK cell activity. The number of Leu 7⁺ cells were reduced in synovial fluid of patients with psoriatic arthropathy (p<0.04), but not as significantly as in the two other patient groups.     

原发性强直性脊柱炎的早期临床特点

目的 探讨原发性强直性脊柱炎（ＡＳ）的早期临床特点。方法 １２０例ＡＳ的早期临床特点。结果 该组病人的发病出现１６－２０岁和３０－３５岁两上发作年龄高山峰，初发年龄较低；外周关节受累的频率较脊柱高；下肢大和骶骼关节常易受累，其中髋关节，膝关节、踝关节和胸锁关节受累的频率分别为７９％，８５％，５７％和６３％，小关节受累少见，虹膜为和主动脉关闭不全的发生率１２．５％和４．５％，未发现有前更炎和类风湿结     

Psychosocial factors and self-help in ankylosing spondylitis patients

Summary The purpose of this research was to investigate psychological factors associated with ankylosing spondylitis (AS), focusing on possible differences between members and nonmembers of self-help groups for people with this form of chronic disease. Analysis of health locus of control beliefs along 3 dimensions: internality powerful others and chance, showed that members of National Ankylosing Spondylitis Society (NASS) self-help groups placed significantly less reliance on powerful others for control of health than did nonmembers. This pattern of beliefs may be related to the nature of AS, which is incurable, progressive, unpredictable and difficult to diagnose. It may therefore appear to the patient that health care professionals have little to offer them. People who join a self-help group may also feel less reliant on medical personnel to control their health. Group members also differed from nonmembers in terms of belief in the value of exercise for AS, frequency of exercise, tendency to seek information about the disorder and perceived social support. A combination of psychosocial and medical variables discriminated between members and nonmembers at a rate of 71.9% accuracy. Results indicate that NASS self-help group members appear to comply more with exercise treatment and also receive a valuable source of social support from fellow members. This investigation demonstrates the utility of including psychosocial variables in the study of chronic disease.     

Ankylosing spondylitis and peripheral joint disease

Summary We reviewed 13 patients with Ankylosing Spondylitis and radiologically demonstrated peripheral arthritis. Due to seriousness and extensiveness, we could distinguish three subgroups.