BackgroundPatients with rheumatic inflammatory conditions have an increased risk of premature death due to cardiovascular causes. It can be explained by the unfavourable interaction between the inflammatory process and the traditional cardiovascular risk factors. In obesity, especially if visceral, and in rheumatic diseases, there is production of pro-inflammatory cytokines, which contributes to an increase in cardiovascular risk. The influence of body mass index (BMI) on the evolution, activity and quality of life in rheumatoid arthritis (RA) and in psoriatic arthritis (PsA) has been proven. However, studies evaluating the influence of the abdominal circumference (AC) and metabolic syndrome (MS) are meagre.ObjectivesTo assess the influence of BMI, AC and MS, on disease activity and quality of life in RA and PA, using parameters of inflammatory activity (sedimentation rate (SR) and C-reactive protein (CRP), Activity Score (DAS28), Visual Analogue Pain Scale (VAS) and Health Assessment Questionnaire (HAQ) and to compare patients with RA and PA.MethodsA cross-sectional study, including 150 patients with RA, diagnosed according to the ACR/EULAR criteria and 75 patients with PsA (CASPAR criteria). Assessment of weight, height, AC, SR and CRP of all patients, clinical and demographic data collection. The presence of MS was assessed according to WHO definition. Participants completed HAQ and disease activity was measured by DAS28. SPSS was used for the statistical analysis, significance level was 2-sided p<0.050.ResultsAge, duration of illness, schooling and professional class were similar in RA and PsA. In RA there was a predominance of females (78.7%), while in PsA a predominance of males (53.3%). There were no differences between the quality of life (by HAQ), or in the disease activity (by DAS28 or by inflammatory parameters). PsA patients had significantly higher BMI and AC. The number of comorbidities was higher in cases of PsA. Dyslipidaemia and hyperuricemia were significantly more frequent in this group of patients. Independently the underlying pathology (RA or PsA), the number of comorbidities correlated positively with DAS28, with HAQ, CRP and SR.In RA group, there was a positive correlation of both BMI and AC with HAQ, also MS associated the highest HAQ values. Overweight/obesity (BMI≥25kg/m2) were associated with at least one painful joint. Still, the risk of having at least one swollen joint was 3.4 times higher in patients with increased AC (95% CI: 1.08-10.39). There was an association between the BMI and AC and the CRP value. Patients with BMI≥25 kg/m2 and with increased AC had DAS28 values significantly higher. MS was associated with significantly higher SR.In PsA group Patients with MS had higher CRP values, more joint pain and higher disease activity according to DAS28. Patients with BMI≥25kg/m2 also had more painful joints and higher CRP values. None of the patients with normal BMI had swollen joints, however 20.4% of overweight patients had at least one swollen joint. There was no association betwee...

The anterior or volar compartment of the forearm contains eight muscles: five belong to the superficial group (pronator teres, flexor carpi radialis, palmaris longus, flexor digitorum superficialis and flexor carpi ulnaris), and three to the deep group (flexor digitorum profundus, flexor pollicis longus and pronator quadratus). Knowledge of the topographic anatomy is essential for correct performance of ultrasound (US) examinations and correct interpretation of the images provided.

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BackgroundErasmus syndrome (ErS) is defined by the association of exposure to silica with the subsequent development of systemic sclerosis (SSc), with or without associated silicosis.ObjectivesThe objectives of this study were, on one hand, to evaluate the prevalence of ErS in a population of SSc patients and to characterize the cases and, on the other hand, to evaluate the clinical and laboratory characteristics of SSc patients with or without exposure to silica.MethodsWe performed a cross-sectional study of the patients with SSc in our department. Demographics, clinical and laboratory data were collected from all patients with SSc diagnosed according to ACR/EULAR criteria. Moreover, a telephone call was made in order to detail the professional activity and possible exposure to silica.ResultsThe prevalence of ErS in this population was 15.3% (9/59). All cases identified were male, corresponding to 75% of men with SSc followed at our department. There was a statistically significant association between ErS and male gender (p<0.001), initial pulmonary manifestation (p=0.025), history of digital ulcers (p=0.014) and smoking (p=0.047). On the other hand, a lower risk of gastrointestinal involvement was found in ErS cases (p=0.008). All patients with ErS had positive autoantibodies (mainly anti-Scl70 and anti-centromere) with titters tending to be higher than SSc without ErS, although without statistically significant differences. In addition, although with no statistical significance, we found that pulmonary artery systolic pressure (PASP) estimated by echocardiogram was higher in patients with ErS.ConclusionIn our study, prevalence of ErS was higher than data from previously published literature. For a more accurate ErS diagnosis it is necessary to be aware of and investigate less intense silica exposures, which may have occurred many years before diagnosis.Statistically significant differences were found between ErS and SSc without exposure to silica; this fact may have impact in diagnosis, treatment and prognosis.References[1] Erasmus L.D. et al.[2] Pollard K. M. et al.[3] West S. G.et al.[4] Elhai M et al. [5] Ferri C etal[6] Mora G. F. et al.[7] Haustein UH et al.[8] Rosenman KD et al.[9] Van Loveren H et al.[10] Rocha L.F. et al.[11] Sharma RK et al.[12] Rustin M. H. et al.[13] Marie I et al.[14] Magnant J et al.[15] Van den Hoogen F et al.[16] Sebastiani M et al.[17] Leroy EC et al.[18] Marie I, et al.[19] Elhai M et al.[20] Makol A. et al.[21] Rodnan G.P. et al.[22] Subrata Chakrabarti et al.[23] Bello S et al.[24] Burns C.J. et al.[25] Galluccio F et al.[26] Forbes A et al.[27] MacHugh NJ et al.[28] Czirjak L et al.Disclosure of InterestsNone declared