Rheumatoid arthritis, corticosteroid therapy and hip fracture

Article Abstract:

Rheumatoid arthritis (RA) appears to increase the risk of hip fracture primarily via functional impairment, not direct effect. Three hundred patients aged 50 or more admitted to a British hospital during an 18-month period with a hip fracture were compared with 600 residents of the same district, matched by age and sex. Interviewers determined whether the patient or resident had RA and what medications were being taken. Dependence in daily living activities was also evaluated. Patients with RA were 2.1 times more likely to sustain a hip fracture, but risk was markedly reduced by adjustment for functional impairment. Patients with RA taking corticosteroids were 2.7 times more likely to sustain a hip fracture, and risk was not reduced by adjusting for other factors.

Rheumatoid arthritis, Hip joint, Hip fractures

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Carpal tunnel syndrome: evaluation of a new method of assessing median nerve conduction at the wrist

Article Abstract:

A new device to measure conductivity of the median nerve may prove useful in studies of carpal tunnel syndrome. Researchers made measurements using standard hospital equipment on 25 patients with carpal tunnel syndrome and compared them with measurements made with the new device. Measurements made of the motor nerve component agreed well, although sensory component measurements agreed less well. However, the device costs one-third what conventional equipment costs, and it is portable and easy to use, which make it potentially useful for research despite this drawback.

Diagnosis, Measurement, Physiological aspects, Carpal tunnel syndrome, Median nerve, Neural conduction

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Cyclical etidronate increases bone density in the spine and hip of postmenopausal women receiving long term corticosteroid treatment. A double blind, randomised placebo controlled study

Article Abstract:

Cyclical treatment with etidronate appears to prevent bone-density loss in women taking corticosteroids for rheumatic diseases. Long-term therapy with corticosteroids can cause osteoporosis. Researchers monitored bone density in 37 postmenopausal women treated with etidronate or placebo while continuing corticosteroid therapy. In two years, patients taking etidronate had bone-density increases of 5% in the spine and femur, while patients taking the placebo lost 2% density in the spine and femur.

Belgium, Evaluation, Prevention, Drug therapy, Rheumatic diseases, Osteoporosis, Etidronate disodium, Etidronate

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