Objective
To explore the MRI features of juvenile-onset ankylosing spondylitis (JoAS) for improving the level of diagnosis and therapy.
Methods
MRI findings of JoAS in 25 patients confirmed by clinical and laboratory results between October 2010 and September 2014 were retrospectively analyzed.
Results
There were a total of 67 locations of lesion in the 25 cases, including 19 in sacroiliac joint, 21 in hip joint, 6 in ischial tuberosity, 6 in crista iliaca, 9 in knee joint, 4 in ankle joint, and 2 in foot. MRI showed 63 locations with bone marrow edema, 36 with joint effusion, 26 with bone destruction, and 19 with enthesitis.
Conclusions
Bone marrow edema is the most common MRI manifestation of JoAS, and the main bone destruction is middle axis joint. MRI is sensitive but not specific to lesions, so differential diagnosis is needed and helpful.
Therapeutic drug monitoring (TDM) has been more widely used in small molecule agents, such as immuno-suppressants, antiepileptic drugs and antibiotics, with less attention in the field of therapeutic biological agents. Monoclonal drugs represented by tumor necrosis factor alpha (TNF-α) inhibitors have shown a good relationship between exposure and efficacy in clinical studies. There are corresponding guidelines and consensus for the recommendations of TDM based on current research evidence. Therefore, this paper introduced the current evidence, strategies and considerations for TDM in the optimal treatment of adalimumab from the perspective of adalimumab TDM to provide references for the clinical practice of adalimumab TDM.
ObjectivesTo systematically review the proportion of Tregs in peripheral blood of patients with ankylosing spondylitis (AS) and its relationship with Treg's diffrent phenotypes.MethodsPubMed, EMbase, The Cochrane Library, CNKI, WanFang Data and VIP databases were electronically searched to collect case-control studies on peripheral Tregs of AS patients from inception to November 31st, 2018. Two reviewers independently screened literature, extracted data and assessed the risk of bias of included studies. Then, meta-analysis was performed by using Stata 12.0 software.ResultsA total of 61 case-control studies involving 2 466 AS patients and 1 879 controls were included. The results of meta-analysis showed that: the proportion of peripheral Tregs of patients with AS was significantly lower than that of the normal control (SMD=?0.905, 95%CI ?1.294 to ?0.517, P<0.000 1), and the proportion of Tregs in the disease-active group was significantly lower than that in disease-inactive group (SMD=?0.928, 95%CI ?1.431 to ?0.425, P<0.000 1). The proportion of CD4+CD25+FOXP3+Tregs and CD4+CD25+CD127low/?Tregs were lower in AS patients than that in control subjects (SMD=?2.547, 95%CI ?3.521 to ?1.573, P<0.000 1; SMD=?0.709, 95% CI ?1.056 to ?0.362, P<0.000 1). The proportion of Tregs defined by CD4+CD25low/?FOXP3+ was higher in AS patients (SMD=0.683, 95%CI 0.161 to 1.206, P=0.01). There was no significant difference betweew other phenotypes of Tregs groups.roups.ConclusionsThe reduction of Tregs may be one of the important reasons for the occurrence and development of AS, which may provide a new approach for the diagnosis and treatment of AS.
【Abstract】 Objective To explore the effectiveness of multiple joint arthroplasty in treating lower limb joint disease. Methods Between January 2000 and December 2007, 5 patients with lower limb joint disease (three or more joints were involved) were treated with total hip and knee arthroplasty. There were 3 males and 2 females, aged from 27 to 59 years (mean, 41.8 years). Two patients had ankylosing spondylitis and 3 had rheumatoid arthritis, whose hip and knee joints were involved. Four patients lost the ability of walking preoperatively, 1 patient could only walk with crutch. The Harris score was 24 ± 24 and the Hospital for Special Surgery (HSS) score was 28 ± 15. All patients underwent multiple joint arthroplasty simultaneously (2 cases) or multiple-stage (3 cases). Results Wounds healed by first intention in all patients. In 1 patient who had dislocation of the hip after operation, manipulative reduction and immobilization with skin traction were given for 3 weeks, and no dislocation occurred; in 2 patients who had early sign of anemia, blood transfusion was given. All patients were followed up 46-140 months with an average of 75 months. The patients could walk normally, and had no difficulty in upstairs and downstairs. The stability of the hip and knee was good, and no joint infection or loosening occurred. The Harris score was 88 ± 6 at last follow-up, showing significant difference when compared with the preoperative score (t=8.16, P=0.00); the HSS score was 86 ± 6, showing significant difference when compared with the preoperative score (t=13.96, P=0.00). Conclusion Multiple joint arthroplasty is an effective treatment method in patients with lower limb joint disease, which can significantly improve life quality of patients.
ObjectiveTo systematically review the effectiveness and safety of thalidomide for ankylosing spondylitis (AS).
MethodsDatabases including Ovid MEDLINE (1946 to 2014.2.1), EMbase (1947 to 2014.2.1), CENTRAL (Issue 1, 2014), CBM (1978 to 2014.2.1), CNKI (1994 to 2014.2.1), WanFang Data (1980 to 2014.2.1) and VIP (1989 to 2014.2.1) were searched for randomized controlled trials about the effectiveness and safety of thalidomide for AS. Two reviewers independently screened literature according to the inclusion and exclusion criteria, extracted data, and assessed methodological quality of included studies. Meta-analysis was then conducted using RevMan 5.2 software.
ResultsSeven RCTs were included involving 544 patients. The results of meta-analysis showed that, compared with the blank group, thalidomide increased clinical remission, but it showed no obvious advantage in Bath Ankylosing Spondylitis Disease Activity Index (BASDAI), Bath Ankylosing Spondylitis Functional Index (BASFI), and secondary outcome index, with an increased total rate of withdrawal/drop-out. Compared with SSZ, thalidomide increased the rate of maintaining remission when it was used in the maintenance treatment after the patients attained ASAS20; and for other outcomes it was similar to SSZ. Compared with NSAIDs, thalidomide increased the rate of maintaining remission when it was used in the maintenance treatment after the patients attained ASAS20; it increased clinical remission; for secondary outcomes it was similar to NSAIDs; and it had a higher incidence of adverse reaction as well as an increased total rate of withdrawal/drop-out.
ConclusionCompared with the blank group, thalidomide increases clinical remission, with an obviously-increased total rate of withdrawal/drop-out. Compared with SSZ, thalidomide increases the rate of maintaining remission when it is used in the maintenance treatment after patients attain ASAS20. Compared with NSAIDs, thalidomide increases the rate of maintaining remission when it is used in the maintenance treatment after patients attain ASAS20; it also increases clinical remission; but it has a higher incidence of adverse reaction as well as an increased total rate of withdrawal/drop-out. Due to limited quantity and quality of the included studies, the above conclusion needs to be verified by conducting more high quality studies.
Objective To investigate the effect of the morphological changes in the proximal femur on the prothesis selection in the total hip arthroplasty in the patients with ankylosing spondylitis. Methods The experimental group was composed of 13 patients (16 hips) with ankylosing spondylitis, which was treated with the total hip arthroplasty, and the control group was composed of 16 patients（19 hips）with non-ankylosing spondylitis，which was also treated with the total hip arthroplasty. In the two groups, the measurements of Singh index，canal flare index，morphological index of the cortex and cortical index were performed in the two groups. Results The results of the statistical analysis on Singh index，canal flare index, morphological index of the cortex and cortical index in the experimental group were 3.81±0.54, 2.63±0.41, 2.02±0.38 and 1.69±0.69, respectively, but 4.63±0.62, 3.03±0.27, 2.76±0.28 and 2.12±0.24, respectively in the control group. Therewas a significant difference in Singh index, canal flare index, and morphological index of the cortex between the two groups (Plt;0.05)，while there was no statistical difference in cortical index between the two groups (P＞0.05). The patientswith ankylosing spondylitis had more serious osteoporosis in their proximal femur. Conclusion Cemented femoral prosthesis should be used in the total hip replacement in patients with ankylosing spondylitis, and the revision total hip arthroplasty should be performed on patients with more serious osteoporosis.
Objective
To summarize the mid- to long-term effectiveness of total hip arthroplasty (THA) in the treatment of the involved hips in patients with ankylosing spondylitis (AS), and to investigate its influencing factors.
Methods
Between March 1999 and May 2011, 32 patients (42 hips) with AS and involved hip underwent THA. There were 26 males and 6 females with a mean age of 39 years (range, 20-78 years). The disease duration ranged from 2 to 41 years, with a median of 10 years. Metal-on-polyethylene bearings were used in 19 hips, and ceramic-on-ceramic bearings in 23 hips. The diameter of prosthetic femoral head was 36 mm in 15 hips and was 28 mm in 27 hips; and all the prostheses were fixed biologically. The Harris score, visual analogue scale (VAS) score, and total range of motion (ROM) of the hip were compared between at pre- and post-operation to evaluate the effectiveness. The DeLee zone was used for describing acetabular prosthesis, the Gruen zone for describing femoral prosthesis, and the Brooker criterion for evaluating the heterotopic ossification.
Results
Healing of incision by first intention was achieved in all patients after operation. There was no complication of anesthetic accident, infection, or neurovascular injury. Twenty-nine cases (39 hips) were followed up 5-17 years (mean, 9 years). Anterior dislocation of hip joint occurred in 2 hips of 24 hips (28 mm diameter), but did not in 15 hips (36 mm diameter). At last follow-up, the Harris score, VAS score, and the total hip ROM were significantly improved (P<0.05). The shorter the disease duration was, the higher postoperative Harris score and the greater postoperative total hip ROM would be (P<0.05); the bigger diameter of prosthetic femoral head was, the greater postoperative total hip ROM would be (P<0.05). All the acetabular components and femoral stems were well fixed at last follow-up. The osteolysis rate around the acetabular cup in the metal-on-polyethylene bearing group (50%, 9/18) was higher than that in the ceramic-on-ceramic bearing group (0, 0/21). No prosthetic loosening was observed in 2 groups. Seven hips were found to have heterotopic ossification, including 5 hips of Brooker grade I and 2 hips of Brooker grade II.
Conclusion
THA is an effective method to treat involved hips in patients with AS; especially for patients having shorter duration of the disease, THA shows better effectiveness when the bigger diameter of prosthetic femoral head and ceramic-on-ceramic bearing are used.
Objective
To study the imaging features of the hip joint by measuring the imaging parameters of spine, pelvis, and hip joint before and after total hip arthroplasty (THA) in patients with ankylosing spondylitis (AS) undergoing THA so as to provide reference for selection of operation methods and prosthesis.
Methods
Between January and July 2015, 38 patients (56 hips) with AS underwent primary THA as AS group, and 36 patients (45 hips) with osteonecrosis of the femoral head underwent THA as control group. There was no significant difference in side (χ2=1.14,P=0.95). The acetabular abduction angle (ABA), acetabular anteversion angle (AVA), center collum diaphyseal (CCD), offset, height from rotation center to lesser trochanter (HRCLT), femoral intertrochanteric distance (FID) were measured by CT three-dimensional morphology. The canal flare index (CFI), cortical thickness index (CTI), pelvic incidence (PI), sacral slope (SS), and pelvic tilt (PT) were measured by X-ray film before operation. The AVA, ABA, and the filling ratio were measured on the postoperative X-ray film.
Results
There was no significant difference in preoperative AVA and ABA and postoperative ABA between 2 groups (P>0.05), but significant difference was found in postoperative AVA (t=6.71,P=0.00). The mean PI, SS, and PT in AS group were 48.37° (range, 41-58°), 5.64°(range, 2-11°), and 12.85° (range, 5-26°), respectively. There was significant difference in CCD, CFI, and CTI between 2 groups (t=3.63,P=0.04;t=5.12,P=0.02;t=3.91,P=0.04), but offset, HRCLT, and FID all showed no significant difference (t=0.41,P=0.36;t=0.33,P=0.56;t=0.59,P=0.12). On the basis of the Noble classification, medullary cavity of the femur was rated as chimney type, ordinary type, and champagne flute type in 32, 18, and 6 hips of AS group, and in 4, 28, and 13 hips of control group respectively. Filling ratio of distal segment in AS group was significantly lower than that in control group (t=5.64,P=0.02), but there was no significant difference in the filling ratio of middle and proximal segments between 2 groups (t=0.29,P=0.61;t=0.55,P=0.13).
Conclusion
Compared with patients having osteonecrosis of the femeral head, there is no significant difference in preoperative AVA and ABA, but postoperative AVA significantly increase in patients with AS. Because AS patients have mainly chimney type medullary cavity of the femur, the filling ratio of middle and distal segment is lower when tapered stems are used, and the filling ratio of anatomic stems is higher.
ObjectiveTo evaluate the application and effectiveness of bilateral total hip arthroplasty and total knee arthroplasty in the treatment of severe inflammatory arthropathies.
MethodsBetween September 2008 and September 2015, 31 patients with severe inflammatory arthropathies were treated with bilateral total hip arthroplasty and total knee arthroplasty. Of 31 cases, 22 were male and 9 were female with an average age of 30 years (range, 20 to 41 years); there were 15 cases of rheumatoid arthritis and 16 cases of ankylosing spondylitis with an average onset age of 14 years (range, 5-28 years); all 4 ankylosed joints were observed in 11 cases, 3 ankylosed joints in 2 cases, 2 ankylosed joints in 6 cases, 1 ankylosed joint in 1 case, and no ankylosed joint in 11 cases. Before operation, the hip range of motion (ROM) value was (17.82±28.18)°, and the knee ROM value score was (26.45±30.18)°; the hip Harris score was 29.64±11.58, and the hospital for special surgery (HSS) score was 27.07±11.04. The patients were grouped and compared in accordance with etiology and ankylosed joint.
ResultsOne-stage arthroplasty was performed in 1 case, two-stage arthroplasty in 22 cases, three-stage arthroplasty in 7 cases, and four-stage arthroplasty in 1 case. The total operation time was 325-776 minutes; the total blood loss was 900-3 900 mL; the total transfusion volume was 2 220-8 070 mL; and the total hospitalization time was 21-65 days. The patients were followed up 12-94 months (mean, 51 months). The hip and knee ROM values, Harris score and HSS score at last follow-up were significantly improved when compared with preoperative ones (P < 0.05). The subjective satisfaction degree was good in 16 cases, moderate in 10 cases, and poor in 5 cases. Periprosthetic infection occurred in 2 cases (3 knees), joint stiffness in 3 cases (6 knees), joint instability in 1 case (1 knee), leg length discrepancy of > 2 cm in 2 cases, and flexion deformity of 10° in 1 case (1 knee). The hip and knee ROM values, Harris score and HSS score showed no significant difference between patients with ankylosing spondylitis and patients rheumatoid arthritis at last follow-up (P > 0.05). The hip and knee ROM values of the patients with ankylosed joint were significantly lower than those of patients with no ankylosed joint (P < 0.05); the Harris score and HSS score of the patients with ankylosed joint were lower than those of patients with no ankylosed joint, but no significant difference was found (P > 0.05).
ConclusionA combination of bilateral hip and knee arthroplasty is an efficient treatment for severe lower extremities deformity, arthralgia and poor quality of life caused by inflammatory arthropathies. However, the postoperative periprosthetic infection and stiffness of knee are important complications influencing the effectiveness of operation.
Objective To explore the application progress and clinical value of digital technologies in the surgical treatment of ankylosing spondylitis (AS). Methods By systematically reviewing domestic and international literature, the study summarized the specific application scenarios, operational procedures, and technical advantages of digital technologies [including preoperative three-dimensional (3D) planning, intraoperative real-time navigation, robot-assisted surgery, and 3D printing] in AS surgery, and analyzed their impact on surgical accuracy, complication rates, and clinical outcomes. ResultsDigital technologies significantly improve the precision and safety of AS surgery. Preoperative 3D planning enables personalized surgical protocols; intraoperative navigation systems dynamically adjusts surgical trajectories, reducing the risk of iatrogenic injury; robot-assisted surgery can minimize human errors and enhance implant positioning accuracy; 3D-printed anatomical models and guides optimize the correction of complex spinal deformities. Furthermore, the combined applications of these technologies shorten operative time, reduce intraoperative blood loss, decrease postoperative complications (e.g., infection, nerve injury), and accelerate functional recovery.ConclusionThrough multidimensional integration and innovation, digital technologies provide a precise and minimally invasive solution for AS surgical treatment. Future research should focus on their synergy with biomaterials and intelligent algorithms to further refine surgical strategies and improve long-term prognosis.
