Sixty-four percent of rheumatoid arthritis patients in Qatar were in remission or had low disease activity while the remaining 36% had active disease and among these patients 29% were on biologics.

We report a case of right-sided hemichorea associated with systemic lupus erythematosus (SLE) in a female patient who presented with involuntary movements of hand and foot, without any other manifestation of SLE. Further workup showed positive tests for antinuclear antibody, anti-Smith antibody, anti-dsDNA, and antiphospholipid antibody (aPL). The patient was started on aspirin and hydroxychloroquine and her chorea resolved after three weeks of followup. This is one of the few reported cases of SLE where chorea is presented as the first and only manifestation of SLE.

Intracranial abscesses, postinfectious vasculitis, and hydrocephalus are rare complications of Streptococcus pneumoniae (S. pneumoniae) meningitis, and to our knowledge, there have been no case reports where all these 3 complications occurred in a single patient with Streptococcus pneumoniae meningitis. Here, we report a case of a 48-year-old male who developed postinfectious vasculitis, abscess, hydrocephalus, and hearing loss after S. pneumoniae meningitis. Clinicians ought to be aware of the possible adverse outcomes of S. pneumoniae meningitis and the limitations of current treatment options.

Background: Musculoskeletal (MSK) conditions are considered a significant public health problem on account of their high prevalence in communities worldwide and their pervasive impact. Knowledge of the epidemiology of MSK symptoms and diseases is lacking in Qatar. Obtaining this information will guide local health policymakers in the future strategic planning of the health budget. Objective: To estimate the prevalence rate of MSK disorders in the Qatari population above 15 years of age using the Community Oriented Program for the Control of Rheumatic Disease (COPCORD) survey. Methods: This cross-sectional study targeted 1000 Qatari participants, including 500 males and 500 females. A door-to-door survey was conducted using the Arabic version of the COPCORD questionnaire with the help of research assistants. Participants with positive surveys were asked to visit Hamad General Hospital Rheumatology outpatient clinics for clinical evaluation by a rheumatologist. When necessary, laboratory testing and X-rays were conducted to confirm any MSK diagnosis. Results: A total of 1239 (males, 50.8%) Qatari individuals randomly selected from the different municipalities of Qatar completed the COPCORD survey. Among the participants, 563 (45.4%) screened positive for MSK pain. Knee pain (24.5%) and back pain (23.3%) were the most common sites of pain, and both conditions showed no gender predominance ( p = 0.073 and 0.108, respectively). Shoulder, wrist, hand, hip, and neck pain were significantly predominant in females ( p < 0.001 for all). A total of 237 MSK disorders were diagnosed in 196 (15.8%) participants, including 181 degenerative joint diseases, 52 soft-tissue rheumatism conditions, and 4 autoimmune inflammatory disorders. Among degenerative joint diseases, knee osteoarthritis (6.4%) was the most common. Among soft-tissue rheumatic conditions, muscular lower back pain (1.9%), myofascial neck pain (0.64%), generalized body pain (0.32%), and shoulder tendinitis (0.7%) were the most common diseases. The autoimmune inflammatory disorders identified included rheumatoid arthritis (n = 2), connective tissue disease (n = 1), and inflammatory bowel disease-associated arthritis (n = 1). Conclusion: The overall prevalence rate of MSK disorders in this small cross-sectional cohort of Qatari individuals was 15.8%. Knee pain (24.5%) and knee osteoarthritis (6.4%) were the most common MSK complaints and diagnosis in the studied Qatari population. This study guides future efforts directed toward the prevention and management of MSK diseases. Further studies with a larger sample size are needed to verify the findings.

The main aim of this study is to compare the 2 medications denosumab and zoledronic acid for patients with beta-thalassemia major induced osteoporosis. Patients with B-thalassemia major induced osteoporosis will undergo baseline assessment of the bone densitometry by bone density (DEXA) scan as a standard of care by the radiology department, then a blood test for bone-specific alkaline phosphatase and type-1 collagen telopeptide will be measured by the chemistry laboratory. Patients with B-thalassemia major induced osteoporosis, who are 18 years of age or more and willing to participate in the study will be enrolled after consenting by the primary investigator in hematology outpatient clinics. Patients with osteoporosis will receive 1 of the 2 medications; at the end of the year, DEXA scan will be done to compare the response of the 2 medications. The potential risks include drug-related side effects. The outcome will be measured biochemically by measuring bone-specific alkaline phosphatase and type 1 collagen carboxy telopeptide and radiologically by DEXA scan at baseline and 1 year using Z score.