Articles related to Rheumatology

‘Bikini medicine’ (see the Boston Globe article) is an outdated, sexist idea that men and women should be cared for similarly — dubbed as such due to the mistaken belief that women’s health only differs in the parts of women that bikinis cover. A ridiculous notion, considering that cardiovascular disease, osteoporosis, and autoimmune diseases affect women differently than men. Last time we checked, the bikini doesn’t cover any of them.

Primary hyperparathyroidism (PHPT) is associated with increased risk for fractures, cardiovascular disease, kidney disease, and cancer, along with increased mortality. In mild PHPT with modest hypercalcemia and without known morbidities, parathyroidectomy is debated because no long-term randomized trials have been performed related to it.

Can you solve the case? A 40-year-old man presents with intermittent burning on his feet over the past three years, typically in colder months, often after outdoor activities. He has no history of disease, denies drug use, and does not smoke. What’s your diagnosis?

Similarly, can you determine how to treat a 22-year-old man with Marfan syndrome who complains of an asymptomatic rash on his arms and neck that began over a year ago? Take the quiz to test your diagnostic prowess.

A new cohort study has found physical, mental, and cognitive symptoms in patients one year after being treated in an intensive care unit (ICU) for COVID-19. The study involved an exploratory multicenter prospective cohort study that included 246 patients who were alive one year following ICU treatment for COVID-19. Three-quarters of patients reported physical symptoms, 1/4 reported mental symptoms, and about 15% reported cognitive symptoms a year after being hospitalized with the respiratory illness.

In contradistinction to recent reports that showed increased risk of death and no clinical benefit with escalation of allopurinol for progressive CKD, this 5-year population-based review found no increased mortality risk in escalating allopurinol dose and achieving target serum urate levels.