Engin Çakar

Sexual problems in male ankylosing spondylitis patients: relationship with functionality, disease activity, quality of life, and emotional status

This study has focused on sexual problems of male ankylosing spondylitis (AS) patients. Initially, patients’ perceptions about the effects of disease on sexual intercourse were assessed. Secondly, we investigated the factors that relate to the disease and affect sexual intercourse negatively. Thirdly, we compared data from the patients whose sexual intercourse were affected negatively with of those whose sexual intercourse were unaffected. This is a cross-sectional and double-centered study. A total of 53 married or sexually active male patients, who were certainly diagnosed with AS according to modified New York criteria, were assessed. Twenty seven patients (50.94%) expressed that their sexual life was affected negatively by the AS in general (affected patients), and 26 patients (49.06%) expressed no negative effect (unaffected patients). Both affected and unaffected patients were compared with each other with regard to educational level, joint involvement, functionality, disease activity, quality of life, and depression status. Mean BASFI, BASDAI scores were worse in the affected group, and the difference was statistically significant (p = 0.012, p = 0.039, respectively). There were statistically significant differences between the groups with regard to lumbar column and hip involvement (p = 0.035, p = 0.021; respectively). The physical functioning, role limitations due to physical problems, vitality/energy/fatigue, general mental health, and general health perception subscale scores of SF-36 were worse in the affected group, and the differences were statistically significant (p = 0.027, p = 0.023, p = 0,013, p = 0.005, p = 0.045, respectively). Affected patients’ Beck Depression Inventory scores were worse than those of unaffected patients, and the difference between the groups was statistically significant (p = 0.039). Sexual problems are common in AS patients and might usually be associated with joint involvement, decreased functionality, increased disease activity, decreased health quality, and depression. Therefore, while examining AS patients and managing their treatments, special attention must be given to all domains of life instead of only physical problems.

Reflex sympathetic dystrophy: a retrospective epidemiological study of 168 patients

This is a retrospective epidemiological study. The objective is to determine the epidemiological characteristics including the patient demographics, etiological factors, duration of symptoms, treatment modalities applied and clinical outcome of the treatment in reflex sympathetic dystrophy (RSD). Medical records of the 168 patients managed in two tertiary hospitals with the diagnosis of RSD that was made according to both IASP criteria and three-phase bone scan were reviewed. The upper limb was affected 1.5 times as commonly as the lower limb. Of the 168 cases, 10.7% were non-traumatic. In 89.3% of the patients, RSD developed after a traumatic inciting event with a predominance of fracture. In 75.6% of the patients, RSD developed due to job-related injuries. The percentage of successful clinical outcome was 72%. The percentage of the patients that did not respond to therapy was 28%. The management period is long and this causes higher therapeutic costs in addition to loss of productive effort. However, response to therapy is good. On the other hand, in approximately one third of the patients, RSD does not improve despite all therapeutic interventions. In addition to compensation costs, this potentially debilitating feature causes RSD to appear as a socioeconomic problem.

The effectiveness of conservative treatments of carpal tunnel syndrome: splinting, ultrasound, and low-level laser therapies.

OBJECTIVE The objective of this study was to investigate the effectiveness of splinting, ultrasound (US), and low-level laser (LLL) in the management of carpal tunnel syndrome (CTS). BACKGROUND DATA CTS is the entrapment mononeuropathy most frequently seen in clinical practice, caused by compression of the median nerve at the wrist. Although several treatment modalities are routinely in use, there is no consensus about the best way to manage CTS. MATERIALS AND METHODS In our study, patients were randomly allocated to three groups that received the following treatment protocols: splinting only, splinting plus US, and splinting plus LLL therapy. Patients were assessed with the Boston Questionnaire, patient satisfaction inquiry, visual analogue scale for pain, and electroneuromyography. RESULTS AND CONCLUSION The study was completed with a total of 100 hands of 50 women patients with bilateral CTS at 3 mo after treatment. At the end of the follow-up period, each of the groups had improvements to varying degrees. It appeared that the combinations of US or LLL therapy with splinting were more effective than splinting alone in treating CTS. However, LLL therapy plus splinting was more advantageous than US therapy plus splinting, especially for the outcomes of lessening of symptom severity, pain alleviation, and increased patient satisfaction.

Thoracic Outlet Syndrome in a Patient With Poland Syndrome

We report a 20-year-old man with Poland syndrome who suffered from weakness, pain, numbness, and discoloration in the left upper extremity. He was eventually diagnosed as also having thoracic outlet syndrome. The concomitance of these two disorders is discussed with a special emphasis on the underlying mechanisms.

Hepatitis B virus reactivation in a Juvenile Rheumatoid arthritis patient under treatment and its successful management: a complicated case

Juvenile rheumatoid arthritis is a common chronic inflammatory disease in the childhood and it can differentiate rarely into spondiloarthropaties. It is one of the important causes of chronic pain and disability. Some of the drugs used for the treatment have immunosupressive activity. One of the serious side-effects of immunosupressive treatment is activation of opportunistic pathogens. Hepatitis B virus (HBV) is one of these pathogens, and the rate of carriers in the population is considerably high. It can cause liver damage and death if reactivated. Thus, the management of oppotunistic pathogens becomes a complex issue when treating rheumatic diseases with immunosupressive drugs. In this case report, we present a juvenile rheumatoid arthritis patient whose liver enzymes raised while he was under treatment and afterwards HBV reactivation was determined as the cause. When reactivation was detected, we started controlled antiviral therapy. We achieved successful clinical and laboratory results after adding biological agents to the treatment. Careful evaluation of the patients who have indication for immunosuppressive agents and regular follow-up in case of infection may be protective from severe morbidity and/or mortality.

Diffuse Idiopathic Skeletal Hyperostosis as a Cause of Dysphagia in a Young Patient With Metabolic Syndrome

A 42-year-old male patient was admitted to our clinic with neck pain, stiffness, limited range of motion in the neck, and dysphagia upon eating solid foods. The pain had started about 5 years previously and increased over time. The patient had no history of trauma to the neck. He had a history of type 2 diabetes mellitus (for 3 years), hypertension (for 10 years), chronic renal failure, and dyslipidemia. The patient was morbidly obese (body mass index: 41). He had experienced frequent infections of the upper respiratory tract during recent years. Motor, sensory, and other neurologic examinations showed no signs of cervical radiculopathy. Range of motion in the neck was limited in all directions, and widespread cervical paravertebral spasm and tenderness were detected. Radiologic investigations showed contiguous vertebrae, bridging osteophytes (Figure 1). Findings of sacroiliac joint radiography were normal.

Chronic low back pain caused by osteopetrosis type 2

Causes for low back pain usually involve damages in bone, muscle or nerve tissues of spine. Hereditary sclerosing bone disorders are rarely presented with low back pain. This report is intended to remind that osteopetrosis type 2, which is a rare disorder in differential diagnosis of low back pain, should be taken into consideration.