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F Lioté

Publications and source records attributed to F Lioté.

At least 19 recordsLinked to original sources
PubMed2007

A follow-up study in 28 patients treated with infliximab for severe recalcitrant psoriasis: evidence for efficacy and high incidence of biological autoimmunity.

BACKGROUND: Infliximab, an antitumour necrosis factor-alpha chimeric monoclonal antibody, is effective for the treatment of severe psoriasis. While the induction of antinuclear antibodies (ANA) and antidouble-stranded-DNA antibodies (anti-dsDNA-ab) is frequently observed in patients with rheumatoid arthritis and Crohn disease receiving infliximab, the incidence of induced biological and clinical autoimmunity remains unknown in the context of psoriasis. OBJECTIVES: To investigate biological and clinical signs of autoimmunity in 28 patients receiving infliximab for severe, recalcitrant forms of psoriasis, and the clinical response to treatment. METHODS: Twenty-eight patients, 15 men and 13 women (median age 39.4 years) with psoriasis refractory to three or more systemic treatments were included. Twenty presented with plaque-type psoriasis [median Psoriasis Area and Severity Index (PASI) score 25.9; range 7.2-48], five with psoriatic erythroderma (median PASI score 54; range 48-72) and three with generalized pustular psoriasis (GPP). Psoriatic arthritis was present in 13 patients (46.4%). Infliximab 5 mg kg(-1) was given at week (W) 0, W2, W6 and every 8 weeks thereafter. Clinical data were assessed at baseline and before each infusion. Detection of ANA and of IgM and IgG anti-dsDNA-ab were performed at baseline and at W22 by immunofluorescence and enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay, respectively. RESULTS: The mean number of infliximab infusions was 5.5 (range 2-15). Among patients with plaque-type and erythrodermic psoriasis, 17 of 25 (68%) and three of five reached a PASI improvement of 75% or more, respectively, while rapid improvement of clinical and biological signs was observed in all three patients with GPP. The prevalence of positive detection of ANA raised from 12% at baseline to 72% at W22 (P = 0.0001), an increase which was also observed for IgM anti-dsDNA-ab (68% vs. 0%, P < 0.0001), while no significant change was observed for the IgG isotype (16% vs. 0%, P = 0.125). Three patients developed nonerosive polyarthritis, without any other criteria for systemic lupus. CONCLUSIONS: The incidence of biological autoimmunity is high in patients with refractory psoriasis receiving infliximab. The concomitant onset of polyarthritis in three cases raises the need to investigate the incidence of autoimmune manifestations in psoriatic patients receiving infliximab in further large-scale studies.

Adult↗
PubMed2006

EULAR evidence based recommendations for gout. Part I: Diagnosis. Report of a task force of the Standing Committee for International Clinical Studies Including Therapeutics (ESCISIT).

OBJECTIVE: To develop evidence based recommendations for the diagnosis of gout. METHODS: The multidisciplinary guideline development group comprised 19 rheumatologists and one evidence based medicine expert, representing 13 European countries. Ten key propositions regarding diagnosis were generated using a Delphi consensus approach. Research evidence was searched systematically for each proposition. Wherever possible the sensitivity, specificity, likelihood ratio (LR), and incremental cost-effectiveness ratio were calculated for diagnostic tests. Relative risk and odds ratios were estimated for risk factors and co-morbidities associated with gout. The quality of evidence was categorised according to the evidence hierarchy. The strength of recommendation (SOR) was assessed using the EULAR visual analogue and ordinal scales. RESULTS: 10 key propositions were generated though three Delphi rounds including diagnostic topics in clinical manifestations, urate crystal identification, biochemical tests, radiographs, and risk factors/co-morbidities. Urate crystal identification varies according to symptoms and observer skill but is very likely to be positive in symptomatic gout (LR = 567 (95% confidence interval (CI), 35.5 to 9053)). Classic podagra and presence of tophi have the highest clinical diagnostic value for gout (LR = 30.64 (95% CI, 20.51 to 45.77), and LR = 39.95 (21.06 to 75.79), respectively). Hyperuricaemia is a major risk factor for gout and may be a useful diagnostic marker when defined by the normal range of the local population (LR = 9.74 (7.45 to 12.72)), although some gouty patients may have normal serum uric acid concentrations at the time of investigation. Radiographs have little role in diagnosis, though in late or severe gout radiographic changes of asymmetrical swelling (LR = 4.13 (2.97 to 5.74)) and subcortical cysts without erosion (LR = 6.39 (3.00 to 13.57)) may be useful to differentiate chronic gout from other joint conditions. In addition, risk factors (sex, diuretics, purine-rich foods, alcohol, lead) and co-morbidities (cardiovascular diseases, hypertension, diabetes, obesity, and chronic renal failure) are associated with gout. SOR for each proposition varied according to both the research evidence and expert opinion. CONCLUSIONS: 10 key recommendations for diagnosis of gout were developed using a combination of research based evidence and expert consensus. The evidence for diagnostic tests, risk factors, and co-morbidities was evaluated and the strength of recommendation was provided.

Advisory Committees↗
PubMed2006

EULAR evidence based recommendations for gout. Part II: Management. Report of a task force of the EULAR Standing Committee for International Clinical Studies Including Therapeutics (ESCISIT).

OBJECTIVE: To develop evidence based recommendations for the management of gout. METHODS: The multidisciplinary guideline development group comprised 19 rheumatologists and one evidence based medicine expert representing 13 European countries. Key propositions on management were generated using a Delphi consensus approach. Research evidence was searched systematically for each proposition. Where possible, effect size (ES), number needed to treat, relative risk, odds ratio, and incremental cost-effectiveness ratio were calculated. The quality of evidence was categorised according to the level of evidence. The strength of recommendation (SOR) was assessed using the EULAR visual analogue and ordinal scales. RESULTS: 12 key propositions were generated after three Delphi rounds. Propositions included both non-pharmacological and pharmacological treatments and addressed symptomatic control of acute gout, urate lowering therapy (ULT), and prophylaxis of acute attacks. The importance of patient education, modification of adverse lifestyle (weight loss if obese; reduced alcohol consumption; low animal purine diet) and treatment of associated comorbidity and risk factors were emphasised. Recommended drugs for acute attacks were oral non-steroidal anti-inflammatory drugs (NSAIDs), oral colchicine (ES = 0.87 (95% confidence interval, 0.25 to 1.50)), or joint aspiration and injection of corticosteroid. ULT is indicated in patients with recurrent acute attacks, arthropathy, tophi, or radiographic changes of gout. Allopurinol was confirmed as effective long term ULT (ES = 1.39 (0.78 to 2.01)). If allopurinol toxicity occurs, options include other xanthine oxidase inhibitors, allopurinol desensitisation, or a uricosuric. The uricosuric benzbromarone is more effective than allopurinol (ES = 1.50 (0.76 to 2.24)) and can be used in patients with mild to moderate renal insufficiency but may be hepatotoxic. When gout is associated with the use of diuretics, the diuretic should be stopped if possible. For prophylaxis against acute attacks, either colchicine 0.5-1 mg daily or an NSAID (with gastroprotection if indicated) are recommended. CONCLUSIONS: 12 key recommendations for management of gout were developed, using a combination of research based evidence and expert consensus. The evidence was evaluated and the SOR provided for each proposition.

Acute Disease↗
PubMed2006

Rapid multifocal chondrolysis after liver transplantation in four patients.

BACKGROUND: Favourable clinical outcomes achieved with liver transplantation may be jeopardised by corticosteroid-induced osteoarticular complications, such as osteoporosis or aseptic osteonecrosis. CASE REPORT: A previously unreported joint complication in liver transplant recipients is described. METHODS: Retrospective study of liver transplant recipients in whom destructive joint disease developed, identified among 330 symptomatic patients out of a total of 1260 managed over a 15 year period (November 1984-January 2000) in a university based liver transplantation centre. RESULTS: In four patients (23-56 years), rapid chondrolysis developed 2-12 years after transplantation in more than three weightbearing or non-weightbearing joints free of radiological features of avascular osteonecrosis, evidence of infection, or defined inflammatory arthritis. Pathological examination of five hip joints and one knee joint found no evidence of infection or inflammation. Six joint replacement procedures were performed successfully in three patients. CONCLUSION: Clinicians managing liver transplant recipients, and perhaps recipients of other organs, should be aware that rapid chondrolysis may develop. The pathogenesis of this rare complication is unclear.

Adult↗
PubMed2005

Clinical practice decision tree for the choice of the first disease modifying antirheumatic drug for very early rheumatoid arthritis: a 2004 proposal of the French Society of Rheumatology.

OBJECTIVE: To elaborate a clinical practice decision tree for the choice of the first disease modifying antirheumatic drug (DMARD) for untreated rheumatoid arthritis of less than six months' duration. METHODS: Four steps were employed: (1) review of published reports on DMARD efficacy against rheumatoid arthritis; (2) inventory of the information available to guide DMARD choice; (3) selection of the most pertinent information by 12 experts using a Delphi method; and (4) choice of DMARDs in 12 clinical situations defined by items selected in step 3 (28 joint disease activity score (DAS 28): < or =3.2; >3.2 and < or =5.1; >5.1; rheumatoid factor status (positive/negative); structural damage (with/without)-that is, 3 x 2 x 2). Thus, multiplied by all the possible treatment pairs, 180 scenarios were obtained and presented to 36 experts, who ranked treatment choices according to the Thurstone pairwise method. RESULTS: Among the 77 items identified, 41 were selected as pertinent to guide the DMARD choice. They were reorganised into five domains: rheumatoid arthritis activity, factors predictive of structural damage; patient characteristics; DMARD characteristics; physician characteristics. In the majority of situations, the two top ranking DMARD choices were methotrexate and leflunomide. Etanercept was an alternative for these agents when high disease activity was associated with poor structural prognosis and rheumatoid factor positivity. CONCLUSIONS: Starting with simple scenarios and using the pairwise method, a clinical decision tree could be devised for the choice of the first DMARD to treat very early rheumatoid arthritis.

Antirheumatic Agents↗
PubMed2003

Elevated angiogenin levels in synovial fluid from patients with inflammatory arthritis and secretion of angiogenin by cultured synovial fibroblasts.

Angiogenesis is a key process in the pathogenesis of inflammatory arthritis. Angiogenin is one of the most potent inducers of neovascularization in experimental models in vivo. To look for evidence that angiogenin is involved in inflammatory joint disease, we examined plasma and synovial fluid (SF) samples from rheumatology patients and synovial fibroblast cell culture supernatants. Angiogenin levels were determined by radioimmunoassay and ELISA. Plasma angiogenin concentrations ranged from 96 to 478 ng/ml, with no significant difference between patients and normal controls. In SF, angiogenin concentrations were significantly higher in patients with acute or chronic synovitis (rheumatoid arthritis (RA): median, 104 ng/ml; range 13-748, n = 14; crystal-induced arthritis (CIA): median, 149 ng/ml; range, 37-616, n = 14, and other chronic inflammatory arthritis: median, 42 ng/ml; range, 15-205; n = 9) than in the 18 patients with osteoarthritis (OA) (median, 20 ng/ml; range 8-116) (P < 0.0001, anova). Angiogenin levels in SF from RA patients in remission with secondary OA were similar to those achieved in primary OA, and decreased in parallel with the resolution of acute gout. Angiogenin protein was released by cultured synovial fibroblasts from OA and RA patients, and reached 1.18 ng/106 cells/day. These data suggest that angiogenin may mediate local inflammation in arthritis via effects on angiogenesis and leucocyte regulation.

Analysis of Variance↗
PubMed2002

Monosodium urate monohydrate crystal-induced inflammation in vivo: quantitative histomorphometric analysis of cellular events.

OBJECTIVE: To quantify the inflammatory cell response in rat air pouch pseudosynovial membrane during monosodium urate monohydrate (MSU) crystal-induced inflammation. METHODS: In the rat air-pouch model, we used a computer-assisted histomorphometric method to quantify cell distributions, based on cell linear densities, in histologic sections of membranes from pouches injected with MSU or saline. The volume, white blood cell (WBC) count, and histamine content of the pouch exudates were determined at several time points. RESULTS: Injection of 10 mg of MSU crystals into the pouch produced an acute exudate. After peaking at 24 hours, the exudate volume and WBC count decreased spontaneously over the next 3 days, simulating the self-limited course of acute gout. Membrane thickness followed a parallel course. Membrane polymorphonuclear cell (PMN) linear densities were closely correlated with exudate WBC counts, suggesting PMN recruitment from the subintimal synovial membrane. Both monocyte/macrophage and mast cell linear densities increased in the subintimal layer 2 hours after crystal injection (P = 0.038 and P = 0.03, respectively, versus controls), whereas PMN linear densities showed 2 peaks, one at 4 hours and the other 24 hours. The exudate histamine content peaked 6 hours after crystal injection, when mast cell linear densities were minimal in the membranes, suggesting mast cell degranulation. CONCLUSION: An increase in monocyte/macrophage and mast cell densities in the membrane preceded the PMN influx in the pouch membrane and exudate, suggesting that mast cells may be involved in the early phase of MSU crystal-induced inflammation, at least in this rat model.

Animals↗
PubMed2001

Management of nontuberculous infectious discitis. treatments used in 110 patients admitted to 12 teaching hospitals in France.

The optimal management of pyogenic discitis is not agreed on. No randomized clinical trials of short-course or oral antibiotic regimens have been published to date. To shed light on this issue, we reviewed the management of patients admitted for pyogenic discitis to one of 12 networked rheumatology departments. In this cross-sectional observational study, each department included the first ten patients admitted starting in January 1997 for treatment of pyogenic discitis. One hundred ten patients met the inclusion criteria, 67 men and 43 women, with a mean age of 60.6 +/- 13.7 years (range, 17-86 years). Mean time from symptom onset to diagnosis was 39.6 +/- 39.8 days (range, 24 h-240 days). Blood cultures were positive in 47.3% of patients, and the percutaneous discal and vertebral biopsy in 63.6% of cases; these two investigations identified the causative organism in 79 cases (72.8%). Mean duration of the rheumatology department stay was 31.3 +/- 14.1 days (range, 4-78 days). Antibiotics were given intravenously to 103 (93.6%) patients, for a mean of 25.5 +/- 17.6 days (range, 4-124 days); duration of intravenous antibiotic therapy was longer than 4 weeks in 36.5% of patients. Only seven (6.4%) patients received primary oral antibiotics with no parenteral antibiotics. One hundred patients were given oral antibiotics at the same time as and after intravenous antibiotics, for a mean duration of 87.2 +/- 43.6 day (range, 20-278 days); Bracing was used in 98 (89.1%) patients. Although antibiotic selection was rational and in agreement with current recommendations, wide differences were noted across centers regarding intravenous treatment duration, hospital stay duration, and total treatment duration.

Abscess↗
PubMed2001

Reliability, validity, and sensitivity to change of the Cochin hand functional disability scale in hand osteoarthritis.

OBJECTIVE: To assess the reliability, validity and sensitivity to change of the Cochin hand functional scale in hand osteoarthritis (OA). BACKGROUND: The Cochin hand functional disability scale has been validated in rheumatoid arthritis. DESIGN: Patients with hand OA according to Altman's criteria were included. Impairment outcome measures (VAS of pain, hand score of tenderness, clinical hand score of impairment, Kallman's radiographic scale), functional disability measures [Cochin scale, Revel's functional index (RFI), Dreiser's functional index (DFI)] and patients' perceived handicap (VAS) were recorded twice, at baseline and at a 6-month follow-up visit. Interobserver reliability was assessed using the intraclass correlation coefficient (ICC) and the Bland and Altman method. Construct (convergent and divergent) validity was investigated using the Spearman rank correlation coefficient and a factor analysis was performed. Sensitivity to change was assessed using the effect size (ES) and the standardized response mean (SRM), and the non-parametric Spearman rank correlation coefficient (r) was used to assess the correlation between quantitative variable changes and patient's overall opinion. RESULTS: 89 patients (8 males, mean age 63 years) were included. Interobserver reliability was excellent (ICC=0.96). The Bland and Altman method showed no systematic trend. Correlations of the Cochin scale score with RFI (r=0.86), DFI (r=0.87), VAS of handicap (r=0.67), VAS of pain (r=0.54), tenderness (r=0.51), clinical impairment (r=0.32), and Kallman's radiographic scale (r=0.13) indicated a good construct validity. Factor analysis extracted four main factors, accounting for 65% of the total variance. 51 patients were evaluated at the 6-month visit. The Cochin scale score had worsened with SRM and ES values of -0.26 and -0.17 respectively. Changes in the score had one of the highest correlation (r=0.47) with the patient's overall opinion. CONCLUSION: The Cochin hand functional disability scale which was first developed to assess the rheumatoid hand can be used to evaluate functional disability in hand OA.

Adult↗
PubMed2001

Acute arthritis after intra-articular hyaluronate injection: onset of effusions without crystal.

Side effects of intra-articular hyaluronate injection include aseptic acute arthritis, which develops within hours after injection. Based on standard crystal analysis, calcium crystal shedding has been postulated to explain this complication. However, it is not known whether apatite crystals or low amounts of calcium pyrophosphate dihydrate (CPPD) crystals are also involved as to determine this requires a complete synovial fluid (SF) analysis. Two cases of such an acute arthritis are reported in patients after receiving a second Hylan GF-20 intra-articular injection. The SF did not contain CPPD, monosodium urate, or calcium apatite microcrystals as examined by microscopic analysis (using a compensated polarised light microscope) after alizarin red staining. Further studies are required to investigate possible direct proinflammatory effects of hyaluronic acid degradation products.

Acute Disease↗
PubMed2000

[Joint manifestations related to Clostridium difficile].

BACKGROUND: Reactional joint disease subsequent to digestive tract infections have been well studied for Salmonella, Shigella, Yersinia and Campylobacter. Association with HLA B27 is well documented. A review of the literature since 1976 disclosed 23 cases of articular and extra-articular inflammatory reactions following pseudomembranous Clostridium difficile infection. CASE REPORT: We describe 2 new cases which followed a favorable course. This is the usual outcome although inflammatory manifestations may persist or relapse. DISCUSSION: The pathophysiological interest of this condition lies in the pathogenic potential of Clostridium difficile which appears to be directly related to toxin production. This would suggest an immune mechanism rather than pure infection.

Adult↗
PubMed2000

Osteoarticular disorders of endocrine origin.

Endocrine diseases may present with musculoskeletal complaints, and their outcome, even after endocrine control, can be impaired by bone and joint disorders. All musculoskeletal structures, including bone, cartilage, synovium, tendons and ligaments, can be involved by some processes triggered by the endocrine disorder and its related disturbances of homeostasis, including that of growth factors. Endocrine disorders may account for 20-30% of all cases of osteopenia or osteoporosis in adults, the main causes being central and peripheral hypogonadism, endogenous and exogenous hypercorticism or hyperthyroidism, and primary hyperparathyroidism. The physician should be aware of these identifiable and treatable causes of bone loss when interpreting bone mineral density measurements. It is also valuable to evaluate bone status in patients diagnosed with these endocrine disorders. Specific bone therapeutic measures could be discussed. Other frequent musculoskeletal features include myopathy and joint and soft tissue involvement. Endocrine myopathy is frequent in most of the endocrine disorders and is non-specific since proximal painless muscle weakness associated with normal serum enzyme levels and an uncommonly encountered electromyogram myopathic pattern are present in these diseases. Soft tissue involvement is also a frequent consequence of acromegaly, hypothyroidism and diabetes mellitus. There is also a risk of nerve entrapment syndromes in these conditions. Specific arthropathies are the hallmark of acromegaly at the spinal and peripheral joints. Neuroarthropathies are a severe complication of diabetes mellitus as a result of infection, neuropathy and vasculopathy. In all these settings, the physician should be aware that endocrine disorders are part of the differential diagnosis and, conversely, that these articular and peri-articular lesions should be managed independently of the control of the underlying endocrine condition, a specific outcome being borne in mind.

Diagnosis, Differential↗
PubMed2000

Adult Henoch-Schönlein purpura associated with malignancy.

OBJECTIVE: Malignancies are among the well-established causes of vasculitis. We studied the association between adult Henoch-Schonlein purpura (HSP) and malignant neoplasms. METHODS: We retrospectively reviewed 14 cases of adult HSP diagnosed during a 6-year period and found a malignant neoplasm in four. Fifteen reports of adult HSP with malignant disease were identified in the literature. These 19 cases were compared with 158 adults who had HSP but no malignancy and who where reported in the literature. RESULTS: Most (63%) of the malignant neoplasms associated with adult HSP were solid tumors: lung, n = 6; prostate, n = 2; breast, n = 1; renal, n = 1; stomach, n = 1; and small bowel, n = 1. Hematologic malignancies (37%) included non-Hodgkin lymphoma, n = 2; Hodgkin disease, n = 2; IgA multiple myeloma, n = 1; myeloproliferative disease, n = 1; and myelodysplastic syndrome, n = 1. Patients with malignancy were older (median age, 59 years), were more likely to be male (M/F = 8.5), had joint involvement more frequently (95%), and had a lower frequency of prior acute infection than those without malignancy. A typical paraneoplastic course was documented in only two cases. CONCLUSIONS: Epidemiological studies are needed to determine the association between adult HSP and malignancy. In practice, it may be wise to suspect a malignancy in men older than 40 years of age who develop HSP in the absence of a precipitating factor. Pathogenic hypotheses involve tumor antigens or abnormal IgA production leading to immune complex formation.

Adult↗
PubMed2000

[Pancreatic pseudocyst: unusual presentation of polyarteritis nodosa].

Even though pancreatic involvement in case of polyarteritis nodosa is uncommon, it reveals infrequently the disease. Furthermore, the occurrence of pancreatic pseudocyst in case of polyarteritis nodosa is rare. One case of intrapancreatic pseudocyst complicating chronic pancreatic during polyarteritis nodosa is reported. CT scan showed non specific intrapancreatic cystic lesion for which the diagnosis of mucinous cystic tumor of the pancreas was considered. After surgical resection, histopathologic analysis led to the diagnosis of intrapancreatic pseudocyst secondary to polyarteritis nodosa.

Chronic Disease↗
PubMed1999

Spinal tuberculosis in adults. A study of 103 cases in a developed country, 1980-1994.

Spinal tuberculosis (TB) accounts for about 2% of all cases of TB. New methods of diagnosis such as magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) or percutaneous needle biopsy have emerged. Two distinct patterns of spinal TB can be identified, the classic form, called spondylodiscitis (SPD) in this article, and an increasingly common atypical form characterized by spondylitis without disk involvement (SPwD). We conducted a retrospective study of patients with spinal TB managed in the area of Paris, France, between 1980 and 1994 with the goal of defining the characteristics of spinal TB and comparing SPD to SPwD. The 103 consecutive patients included in our study had TB confirmed by bacteriologic and/or histologic studies of specimens from spinal or paraspinal lesions (93 patients) or from extraspinal skeletal lesions (10 patients). Sixty-eight percent of patients were foreign-born subjects from developing countries. None of our patients was HIV-positive. SPD accounted for 48% of cases and SPwD for 52%. Patients with SPwD were younger and more likely to be foreign-born and to have multiple skeletal TB lesions. Neurologic manifestations were observed in 50% of patients, with no differences between the SPD and SPwD groups. Of the 44 patients investigated by MRI, 6 had normal plain radiographs; MRI was consistently positive and demonstrated epidural involvement in 77% of cases. Bacteriologic and histologic yields were similar for surgical biopsy (n = 16) and for percutaneous needle aspiration and/or biopsy (n = 77). Cultures for Mycobacterium tuberculosis were positive in 83% of patients, and no strains were resistant to rifampin. Median duration of antituberculous chemotherapy was 14 months. Surgical treatment was performed in 24% of patients. There were 2 TB-related deaths. Our data suggest that SPwD may now be the most common pattern of spinal TB in foreign-born subjects in industrialized countries. The reasons for this remain to be elucidated.

Adolescent↗
PubMed1999

Nonsurgical treatment of osteoarticular tuberculosis. A retrospective study in 143 adults.

OBJECTIVE AND METHODS: Data are sparse on nonsurgical treatments currently used for osteoarticular tuberculosis in industrialized countries. We conducted a multicenter retrospective study in the Paris urban area, France, in 206 cases of osteoarticular tuberculosis documented by examination of a local specimen. This article reports our findings in the 143 patients who were followed up at least until treatment completion. RESULTS: Mean follow-up after treatment completion was 16 months. Seventy-five (52%) patients had spondylitis and 68 (48%) did not. The number of antituberculous agents used during the initial treatment phase was four in 65% of cases and three in 35%. In the spondylitis subgroup, mean (+/- SD) antibiotic therapy duration was 14.7 +/- 3.4 months, and 25% of patients required surgery; 3% of patients died, 1% suffered a relapse, and 96% achieved a full recovery with no relapse. In the nonspondylitis subgroup, mean antibiotic therapy duration was 13 +/- 3 months and 29% of patients required surgery. The only HIV-positive patient had osteitis of the calcaneus with a relapse that led to discovery of secondary rifampin resistance. CONCLUSION: Based on our findings and on data from the literature, we believe that 12 months is a reasonable duration for antituberculous therapy in osteoarticular tuberculosis, including tuberculous spondylitis.

Adolescent↗