Anti-Phospholipid Syndrome In Nigeria: Report Of Five Cases

Five cases of secondary anti-phospholipid syndrome (APS) are presented andliterature reviewed. Pregnancy loss was the most common presentation but neurologic manifestations are also seen. IgG ACA was more commonly seen than IgM ACA. Although APS has been infrequently reported in black Africans, an awareness of this condition is needed especially among females with previous recurrent pregnancy losses

Rheumatoid Arthritis Associated with Pulmonary Fibrosis in Nigerians: Two Case Reports

Rheumatoid arthritis may sometimes present with extra-articular involvement, pulmonary involvement is not common. Rheumatoid arthritis has been reported among Nigerians and extra-articular manifestations are rarely seen. One of the patients was misdiagnosed and mismanaged as a patient with pulmonary tuberculosis. The study is to demonstrate that rheumatoid arthritis is not as rare as previously reported in Nigeria and its pulmonary involvement can mimic tuberculosis or other granulomatous lung disorder. Clinical and serological acumen are necessary to distinguish between the two. Two diagnosed patients with rheumatoid arthritis and pulmonary involvement seen at Olabisi Onabanjo University Teaching Hospital (OOUTH), are hereby presented

Rhematological manifestations of HIV infections among Nigerians: case reports and literature

No Abstract. Nigerian Medical Practitioner Vol. 47(6) 2005: 117-12

Low back pain among patients attending rheumatology clinic in the South West Nigeria

Background: Back pain is among the common musculoskeletal complaints for patients seeking medical care. Back pain encompasses a spectrum of conditions, those with acute and short duration, to life-long disorders. Generally, causes of back pain include osteoarthritis (spondylosis), disc degeneration, osteoporotic fracture, and non-specific low back pain. Objective: To determine the pattern of low back pain among the people living in the South West Nigeria. Design: Prospective study. Methods: All the patients that presented with low back pain either with or without neuro-vascular complaints were enlisted in the study. The study was carried out over three years (January 2010-December 2012). Inclusion criterion was non-traumatic back pain. Exclusion criteria included traumatic back pain, malignancy related back pain, and inflammatory back pain. Results: Seventy three patients were seen over three years constituting 21.7% of total rheumatology cases seen over this period. There were 45 (61.6%) males, and 26 (38.4%) females with a male: female ratio of 1.6:1. Age range was 18 to 72 years, with means of 28 years. Males were generally affected with back pain more than females. Males in their active years were more affected. Non-specific back pain was the leading cause of back pain among the patients studied. Conclusion: The finding of non-specific low back pain as the leading cause of low back pain in this study agrees with earlier literatures on the same issue. Keywords: Low back pain, Musculoskeletal complaint, Hospital patients, Nigeri

Gouty arthritis in Nigerians: clinical and laboratory correlates

Background: Gout has been infrequently reported in black Africans despite the high prevalence in black Americans. There are even fewer reports in West Africans. However, there is a current trend towards increasing frequency among Caucasians, which is mostly due to increasing incidence of obesity, hypertension as well as the consumption of alcohol and other purine loaded foods and drinks. The increasing usage of diuretics and low dosage of aspirin may also be among the contributing factors. These factors are also increasingly been found in black Africans. Objectives: To determine the correlation between the clinical presentations, laboratory findings and pattern of presentation of gout among Nigerians. Design: A retrospective study. Settings: The study was conducted at a private practice rheumatology clinic in Lagos, Nigeria. The clinic serves as a major referral rheumatology clinic for Lagos and the adjoining states. Methods: The case notes of the patients seen over 10 years (January 2001- December 2010) were retrieved. The patients were those who met the American College of Rheumatology Criteria for gout. Data extracted included patients demography, pattern of joint involvement and co-morbid conditions. Necessary literature review was done. Results: A total of 146 subjects were studied. Most of the patients were male (74%), the mean age for all subjects was 53.4 years. Large joints such as the knee and ankle were mostly involved. While monoarticular presentation was mostly observed in half of the subjects, oligoand polyarticular presentations were seen in the remaining half. Tophi were observed in 6.2% of the subjects. Gout was predominantly associated with hypertension. Association was also found with obesity, diabetes, osteoarthritis and alcohol consumption to a lesser extent. Conclusion: Gout seen in Nigerians has both similarities and differences compared to those seen in other black Africans. Key words: Gouty arthritis, Nigerians, Associations, Clinical, Laboratory correlate

Modification of strength properties of lime-stabilized laterites with sawdust ash

The potential of sawdust ash as a stabilizer for lateritic soils was investigated to determine the modifying effects on strength properties required for road construction. Three laterite samples, A, B and C were collected respect- ively from Akoda, Osogbo and Ile-Ife (Nigeria). Atterberg limits and strength tests were performed on the raw samples and stabilized samples A and B only. Sample C exhibited Plastic Index > 15 and required no stabilizat-ion. Stabilization was performed at lime optimum of 6 % for sample A and 8 % for sample B using 2, 4, 6, 8, and 10 % of sawdust ash by weight of the samples. The unsoaked California Bearing Ratio increased from 1.69 to 4.64 % for sample A, but decreased from 2.62 to 1.92 % for sample B. The compressive strength of sample A increased from 34.25 to 73.26 kN/m2, but decreased from 53.27 to 50.43 kN/m2 for sample B. The shear stre-ngth increased from 28.49 to 46.70 kN/m2 for sample A, but decreased from 84.19 to 34.08 kN/m2 for sample B. Therefore, sawdust ash could be used to modify the strength properties of lime-stabilized lateritic soils for road construction

Rheumatological manifestations of diabetes mellitus - a review

The aim of this paper is to review literature on rheumatological manifestations of diabetes mellitus. An English language literature search using Medline and PubMed (1968 January to December 2003) was done to assess research / review articles on rheumatological manifestations of diabetes mellitus A variety of rheumatological conditions are strongly associated with diabetes mellitus including limited joint mobility, specific arthropathies of the hand (carpal tunnel syndrome, Dupytrens contracture, flexor tenosynovitis and diabetic sclerodactyly), shoulder (adhesive capsulitis-frozen shoulder, and calcific periarthritis) and spontaneous infarction of skeletal muscle. On the other hand, there are some conditions that are weakly associated with diabetes mellitus including osteoarthritis and chondrocalcinosis. The likely pathogenetic mechanisms, diagnosis and the management of these conditions are discussed. Poorly controlled and untreated diabetes mellitus of a long duration may be associated with some rheumatological conditions. The presence of these rheumatological conditions should prompt clinicians in screening the individual for diabetes mellitus.Keywords: diabetes mellitus, musclo-skeletal Nigerian Medical Practitioner Vol. 48(3) 2005: 77-8

Rheumatologic Disorders in Diabetes Mellitus: Case Reports and Review of Literature

Various rheumatologic disorders are associated with diabetes mellitus. These include osteoarthritis, shoulder pain syndrome, flexor tendon synovitis and Diffuse Idiopathic Skeletal Hyperostosis (DISH). Although Diabetes Mellitus has been frequently reported among Nigerians, there are few reports on rheumatologic disorders among them. This is a case report of four rheumatologic conditions commonly seen among Nigerian diabetics. Three (3) of the four diabetic patients were females, (ages 67-87yrs) and had limited joint mobility (LJM), Shoulder Pain syndrome with Sudecks Atrophy and neurogenic bladder in the 82yr old. The fourth patient, 61 yr old male had LJM only. Diabetes duration ranged from 10-20 years. They were managed conservatively with NSAID, intra-articular steroid injection into the shoulder joint and intra-lesional injection in the patient with trigger finger. Response to therapy was effective with little or no pain after. Long disease duration and old age are essentials to the onset of rheumatological disorders in diabetes. There may be multiple manifestations in any one patient and multidisciplinary approach in management of patients to improve outcome and overall quality of life is advocated.Keywords: Diabetes mellitus, duration, rheumatologic manifestation

Phytonutrient, Antioxidant and Mineral Composition of Some Wild Fruits in South West Nigeria

This study was carried out to determine the chemical composition, antinutrient and phytonutrient contents of some wild fruits, namely African star apple (Chrysophyllum albidum G. Don.), hog plum (Spondias mombin Linn.), bush mango (Irvingia gabonensis Baill.) and monkey cola (Cola millenii K. Schum.). Samples of the wild fruit commonly consumed werecollected from some villages in Ido Local Government Area, Oyo State Nigeria. The wild fruits were analysed for phytonutrients, antioxidants and mineral composition. Ranges of total phenolics and total anthocyanin content of these wild fruits were 27.78 ± 6.01 in I. gabonensis, 57.42 ± 4.47 in S. mombin, 121.29 ± 4.97 in C. millenii and 398.23 ± 0.00 in C. albidum respectively. Significant differences (p < 0.05) were found in antinutrient, phytonutrient and mineral composition of C. albidum, I. gabonensis and C. millenii. The analysis of variance revealed that calcium and manganese contents of I. gabonensis were significantly (p < 0.05) higher than those of C. albidum and C. millenii. The antioxidants especially vitamin C content ranged from as low as 15.87 mg/100 g in C. albidum to as high as 204.86 mg/100 g in S. mombin. The values for total carotenoid ranged from 172.77 ìg/100 g (in C. millenii) to 1380.17 ìg/100 g (in C. albidum). The wild fruits are sources of phytonutrients, antioxidants such as vitamin C, total carotenoids and some minerals. Planting of the wild fruit trees or the incorporation in farming systems should thus be encouraged to increase production and availability to consumers and as industrial raw materials.Keywords: Wild fruits, minerals, vitamins, phytonutrients, Nigeria