Utilization of validated criteria for diagnostic assessment in nonsynchronous, allopatric populations: Role in archeologic diagnosis of rheumatoid arthritis and differentially distinguishing it from mimics

Abstract

The origin of rheumatoid arthritis (RA) has been controversial, with devouée committed to either New World or Old World origins. Support for the latter was predicated on observation of isolated Old World pre-Columbian cases of inflammatory arthritis.The hypothesis is that spectral assessment of disease characteristics can determine the likelihood that pre-Columbian Old World claims are validly attributed to RA. Do they represent spectrum outliers or do they have a different etiology (e.g., spondyloarthropathy)? The published literature was surveyed for reports alleging pre-Columbian, Old World cases of RA. The disease characteristics in published reports claiming presence of pre-Columbian RA were analyzed. Spectrum of disease (manifestations as population phenomenon) was utilized to assess likelihood diagnoses, when only isolated cases are recognized. None of the accessible 41 reported cases, with adequate information to allow assessment, described/

The Lumping/Splitting Conversation Related to Fibromyalgia in Rheumatology: Does It Matter?

“…The lumper/splitter controversy in recognition of rheumatoid arthritis has seemingly been resolved in favor of the latter by identified biomechanical, biochemical, imaging and epidemiological parameters and studies of the record of inflammatory arthritis in non-humans [23][24][25][26][27]. Characteristics (e.g., joint fusion in the absence of corticosteroid therapy) that are distinctly unusual, if occurring at all, in rheumatoid arthritis facilitate the identification of an individual as not actually having that disease [25][26][27][28][29]. So, too, it is time for reevaluation of our application of the appellation, fibromyalgia.…”