Nabumetone, a new nonsteroidal antirheumatic drug (NSAD), is chemically a (6-methoxy-2-naphthyl) butan-2-on. This drug was investigated with regard to its effectiveness and tolerability in an open multicenter study of 3 weeks duration, involving 40 patients with osteo-arthrosis and 45 with rheumatoid arthritis. 11 patients with arthrosis of the hip and 8 suffering from rheumatoid arthritis were continuously treated 6-12 months. The evaluation showed a good result in 85% of the patients with osteo-arthrosis and in 80% of the rheumatoid patients therapy of 3 weeks. Side effects were comparable with those of other NSADs. The changes in laboratory findings were not clinically significant. During long-term therapy both good tolerability and persisting efficacy were evidenced.

Adolescent↗

PubMedDate not supplied

[Psychosocial studies in patients in a condition after intervertebral disk surgery].

The psychosocial backgrounds were examined in patients making only slow recovery after lumbar disc hernia operation without organic cause, in patients with recurrent low back pain syndrome, and in a control group of healthy persons. These three groups of persons were employed as skilled or unskilled laborers. For the purpose of the study a self administered questionnaire (MISREP) was completed by the patients. This included psychological, medical, social, and sociological factors. The specific answers obtained were examined by means of statistically relevant methods to determine the difference between the three groups. The disc operation patients and the low back pain patients showed different attitudes to some specific questions. These concerned career prospects, early retirement, subjective assessment of overwork, frequency of illness, negative work conditions, job satisfaction, readiness to be retrained for a suitable job, relations with superiors and co-workers, positive expectations of medical treatment, various symptoms from the vegetative and somatic fields, and symptoms of depression and introversion. The information showed the control group to be most significantly different by a lower readiness for conflict and circumstances less characterized by conflict. The possibility of a specific personality structure is discussed in general and in detail.

Female↗

PubMedDate not supplied

[Differential diagnosis of hand and finger changes from a rheumatologic viewpoint].

Polyarthralgias are widely common complaints. In earlier stages it might be difficult to state the right diagnosis. Differential diagnosis is absolutely necessary for starting in time with the right treatment. Out of a great clinical material the following diseases causing mono-, oligo- or polyarthralgia were discussed: enchondral dysostosis (osteochondrodysplasia) Marfan's syndrome (arachnodactylia), Ehlers-Danlos syndrome (elastic fibrodysplasia), Kaposi's sarcoma (multiple idiopathic hemorrhagic sarcoma) and a disease involving the connective tissue localized in different cutaneous regions. All discussed diseases showed no primary involvement of the synovial membranes of the joints and differed by that from inflammatory joint diseases.

Diagnosis, Differential↗

PubMedDate not supplied

[Course of enzymopenic hemolytic anemia (glutathione reductase deficiency) simulating chronic polyarthritis].

Enzymopenic haemolytic anaemias are rare diseases in which there is an excess iron turnover. The iron is mainly deposited in many tissues giving rise to fibrosis and tissue damage. There is always a specific arthropathy; by involving a number of joints at the same time the clinical picture may resemble active rheumatoid arthritis, and therefore an erroneous treatment with gold, chloroquine, D-penicillamine or corticosteroids is possible. The diagnostic procedure in a patient suffering from enzymopenic haemolytic anaemia and pathogenetic mechanisms are discussed.

Anemia, Hemolytic↗