Prevalence and Characteristics of Lung Involvement on High Resolution Computed Tomography in Patients with Ankylosing Spondylitis: A Systematic Review

To determine the prevalence of lung involvement and the spectrum of abnormalities revealed on HRCT in patients with AS, a systematic literature review was conducted in the Medline database up to May 2009 and in the abstracts of rheumatology scientific meetings (2006–2008). A hand search of references was also performed. Among the 264 selected articles, 10 articles (303 patients) allowed a calculation of the prevalence of lung abnormalities on thoracic HRCT in AS. A total of 185 patients (61%) had an abnormal thoracic HRCT: upper lobe fibrosis in 21 (6.9%), emphysema in 55 (18.1%), bronchiectasis in 33 (10.8%), and ground glass attenuation in 34 (11.2%). Non specific interstitial abnormalities were observed in 101 (33%) patients. The most common observed abnormalities were pleural thickening (52%), parenchymal bands (45%) and interlobular septal thickening (30%). Only the prevalence of upper lobe fibrosis increased significantly with disease duration (3 studies). Mild and non-specific interstitial abnormalities on thoracic HRCT are common in patients with AS, even in patients with early disease and without respiratory symptoms

Relationship between sex hormone levels, bone mineral density and bone turnover markers in healthy moroccan men: a cross-sectional study

Introduction: Gonadal steroid hormones play a crucial role during skeletal growth and maturation in  both men and women. The aim of this study is to evaluate the relationship of sex hormone levels, bone mineral density and biochemical markers of bone turnover in healthy Moroccan men.Methods: 142 Moroccan men who had no previous diagnosis of osteoporosis were enrolled prospectively in this cross-sectional study between December 2009 and August 2010. Also, subjects were excluded from the study if they had conditions affecting bone metabolism. Different biochemical parameters were assayed: Testosterone, Estradiol, sex hormone binding globulin, Osteocalcin, vitamin D, crosslaps,  intact parathyroid hormone and alkaline phosphatase. Dual-energy X-ray absorptiometry was used to measure the Bone mineral density (BMD) (g/cm2).Results: In this study, among the 142 Moroccan men, 29 (20.1%) had densitometry osteoporosis and the  prevalence of vitamin D insufficiency was 94%. No corrolation was found between Estradiol,  Testosterone and bone mineral density but we found significant  differences in the levels of Estradiol between patients with osteoporosis, osteopenia and normal patients. Bone mineral density at the lumbar spine was negatively correlated to hormone-binding globulin and positively correlated to free androgen index, free estrogen index and the Body mass index. BMD at the total hip was positively correlated to free androgen index, Body mass index and negatively correlated to sex hormone binding globulin, alkaline phosphatase, intact parathyroid hormone, osteocalcin, Crosslaps and age. Conclusion: Our study showed that increasing age, intact parathyroid hormone and alkaline phosphatase levels and decreasing body mass index were the most important independent factors associated to the presence of a low BMD at the total hip. Increasing body mass index and free androgen index level were the most important independent factors associated to the presence of a low BMD at the lumbar spine. The combination of variable that best predicted the male osteoporosis is age, body mass index, alkaline phosphatase and cigarette  smoking.Key words: Male osteoporosis, sex hormones, vitamin D, Bone remodeling marker

Association entre les hormones sexuelles, les marqueurs de remodelage osseux et la densité minérale osseuse chez des femmes ménopausées d’origine marocaine (étude transversale)

Introduction: Le présent travail se propose d'étudier la relation entre les hormones sexuelles,  notamment l'oestradiol et l'indice de l'oestradiol libre, le sulfate de déhydroépiandrosterone et la sex hormone binding globulin, les marqueurs de remodelage osseux et la densité minérale osseuse chez une population de femmes marocaine ménopausées. Méthodes: Il s'agit d'une étude transversale, menée sur une période de 6 mois d'octobre 2012 à fin avril 2013 et ayant fait participer deux cent deux (202). Résultats: L'oestradiol et l'indice d'oestradiol libre (IEL) ont montré une corrélation négative  respectivement à l'ostéocalcine (OC), à la crosslaps (β-CTX) et l'OC (p<0.001). La sulfate de  déhydroepiandrosterone SDHEA a été corrélée positivement à l'OC (p<0.001), alors que e taux sérique de la sex hormone binding globulin (SHBG) l'a été corrélé à la β-CTX et l'OC (p<0.001). Par ailleurs, une  corrélation positive a été établie entre la densité minérale osseuse (DMO) au col de fémur et le poids, l'indice de masse corporelle (IMC), l'IEL et la S-DHEA. Une corrélation négative a été retrouvée entre la DMO au col de fémur d'une part et l'âge, la DDR, la SHBG, la β-CTX et l'OC d'une autre part.Conclusion: Le présent travail montre que l'augmentation de l'âge et la diminution de l'oestradiol libreexpliquent la diminution de la DMO au niveau du col du fémur, alors que l'augmentation du taux sérique de la SHBG et la diminution du poids expliquent la diminution de la DMO au rachis lombaire. Key words: Hormones sexuelles, densité minérale osseuse, marqueurs de remodelage osseu

Consensus formalisé: recommandations de pratiques cliniques pour la prise en charge de la lombalgie aiguë du patient africain

La lombalgie aiguë est la pathologie rhumatismale la plus fréquente en Afrique. L'épidémiologie et la  présentation clinique ne diffèrent pas de celles observées sur les autres continents. En revanche, les aspects psycho-sociaux, la disponibilité des traitements, l'accès aux soins et le poids culturel des médecines  traditionnelles sont autant de spécificités qui ont conduit à la réalisation du 1er consensus d'experts en rhumatologie pour la prise en charge du patient africain. Destiné aux praticiens, ce travail collaboratif  multinational a pour objectif de fournir 11 recommandations de pratiques cliniques simples, fondées sur les preuves, et adaptées aux conditions de l'exercice médical en Afrique. Leur ambition est d'améliorer la prise en charge de la lombalgie aigue par une évaluation initiale clinique pertinente, une diminution des examens  radiologiques inutiles, une prescription médicamenteuse adéquate et l'abandon de procédures invasives inappropriées.Key words: Lombalgie aigüe, Afrique, Recommandatio

Risk factors of osteoporosis in healthy Moroccan men

<p>Abstract</p> <p>Background</p> <p>Although not as common as in women, osteoporosis remains a significant health care problem in men. Data concerning risk factors of osteoporosis are lacking for the male Moroccan population. The objective of the study was to identify some determinants associated to low bone mineral density in Moroccan men.</p> <p>Methods</p> <p>a sample of 592 healthy men aged 20-79 years was recruited from the area of Rabat, the capital of Morocco. Measurements were taken at the lumbar spine and proximal femurs using DXA (Lunar Prodigy Vision, GE). Biometrical, clinical, and lifestyle determinants were collected. Univariate, multivariate, and logistic regression analyses were performed.</p> <p>Results</p> <p>the mean (SD) age of the patients was 49 (17.2) years old. The prevalence of osteoporosis and osteopenia were 8.7% and 52.8%, respectively. Lumbar spine and hip BMD correlated significantly with age, weight and BMI. When comparing the subjects according to the WHO classification, significant differences were revealed between the three groups of subjects for age, weight and BMI, prevalence of low calcium intake and low physical activity. The multiple regression analysis found that only age, BMI, and high coffee consumption were independently associated to the osteoporotic status.</p> <p>Conclusion</p> <p>ageing and low BMI are the main risk factors associated with osteoporosis in Moroccan men.</p

Hypovitaminosis D and prevalent asymptomatic vertebral fractures in Moroccan postmenopausal women

BACKGROUND: Hypovitaminosis D is associated to accentuated bone loss. However, association between osteoporotic vertebral fractures (VFs) and vitamin D status has not been clearly established. OBJECTIVE: To determine serum vitamin D status and to assess the association of vitamin D status with bone mineral density (BMD) and asymptomatic VFs prevalence using vertebral fracture assessment (VFA) in a cohort of Moroccan menopausal women. METHODS: from June to September 2010, 178 menopausal women 50 years old and over were enrolled in this cross-sectional study. The mean ± SD (range) age, weight, height and BMI were 58.8 ± 8.2 (50 to 79) years, 73.2 ± 13.8 (35 to 119) Kgs, 1.56 ± 0.06 (1.43 – 1.79) m and 29.8 ± 5.9 (17.5 – 49.8) kg/m(2), respectively. VFA images and scans of the lumbar spine and proximal femur were obtained using a GE Healthcare Lunar Prodigy densitometer. VFs were defined using a combination of Genant semiquantitative approach and morphometry. Serum levels of 25-hydroxyvitamin D (25(OH)D) were measured. RESULTS: Among the 178 women, 45 (25.2%) had densitometric osteoporosis, and on VFA, VFs (grade 2 or 3) were detected in 20.2% while grade 1 were identified in 33.1%. The mean values of serum levels of 25(OH)D were 15.8 ± 11.6 ng/ml (range: 3.0 – 49.1) with 152 patients (85.3%) having levels <30 ng/ml (insufficiency) and 92 (51.6%) <10 ng/ml (deficiency). Stepwise regression analysis showed that presence of VFs was independently related to age, 25(OH)D and densitometric osteoporosis. CONCLUSION: our study shows that advanced age, hypovitaminosis D and osteoporosis are independent risk factors for asymptomatic VFs in Moroccan postmenopausal women