Yesim Garip

Dry eye in vitamin D deficiency: more than an incidental association.

The aim of this article is two‐fold: (i) to demonstrate the relation between vitamin D deficiency and dry eye and impaired tear function; and (ii) to investigate the possible associations among clinical parameters of hypovitaminosis D with dry eye parameters.

Fatigue in the mothers of children with cerebral palsy

Abstract Purpose: To evaluate fatigue in the mothers of children with cerebral palsy (CP), and to determine its associations with clinical parameters of CP, depression and quality of life (QoL). Method: Ninety children (50 girls and 40 boys) with spastic CP and their mothers were included. Control group comprised mothers of healthy children. Gross motor function classification system (GMFCS) was used for determining functional status. Spasticity was evaluated by using modified Ashworth scale. Fatigue symptom inventory (FSI) was used for assessing maternal fatigue, Nottingham health profile (NHP) for maternal QoL, and Beck Depression Scale (BDS) for maternal depression. Results: Mothers of children with CP scored significantly higher in all FSI subgroups (intensity of fatigue, duration of fatigue and interference with QoL), all NHP subgroups and BDS (p < 0.05) when compared with controls. FSI was found to be correlated with BDS and all subgroups of NHP (p <  0.01). No association was found between FSI and clinical parameters of children with CP including age, gender, type of CP, tonus and functional impairment (p > 0.05). Conclusions: Our findings indicate that fatigue levels of mothers with CP children are higher than those with healthy children and associated with depression and deterioration in QoL in terms of physical, social and emotional functioning. This should be considered while designing a family centred rehabilitation programme for children with CP. Implications for Rehabilitation Caring for a child with cerebral palsy has psychological, social and financial impacts on familiesand is associated with increased levels of fatigue among mothers. The capacity of current programs and services needs to be strengthened to accommodate theneeds of children with CP and their mothers in order to reduce fatigue of mothers. New programs need to be developed to provide psychosocial support for the mothers andto reduce their fatigue as they continue to care for their children. Provision of assistive technology devices (particularly suitable wheelchairs) will be useful inreduction of fatigue levels of mothers.

Health related quality of life in Turkish polio survivors: impact of post-polio on the health related quality of life in terms of functional status, severity of pain, fatigue, and social, and emotional functioning

OBJECTIVE To determine the impact of postpolio-syndrome on quality of life in polio survivors. METHODS Forty polio survivors were included in the study. Twenty-one patients fulfilling the Halsteads postpolio-syndrome criteria participated in postpolio-syndrome group. The remaining nineteen patients formed non-postpolio-syndrome group. Control group was composed of forty healthy subjects. Quality of life was evaluated by Nottingham Health Profile, depression by Beck Depression Scale and fatigue by Fatigue Symptom Inventory. Isometric muscle strength was measured by manual muscle testing. RESULTS Total manual muscle testing score was 26.19±13.24 (median: 29) in postpolio-syndrome group and 30.08±8.9 (median: 32) in non-postpolio-syndrome group. Total manual muscle testing scores of non-postpolio-syndrome group were significantly higher than that of postpolio-syndrome group. Patients with postpolio-syndrome reported significantly higher levels of fatigue and reduced quality of life in terms of physical mobility, pain and energy when compared with patients without postpolio-syndrome and control group. It was not reported a statistically significant difference in social and emotional functioning and sleep quality between postpolio-syndrome, non-postpolio-syndrome and control groups. Also it was not found any statistically significant difference in Beck Depression Scale scores among the groups. CONCLUSIONS Postpolio-syndrome has a negative impact on quality of life in terms of functional status, severity of pain and energy. The identification, early recognition and rehabilitation of postpolio-syndrome patients may result in an improvement in their quality of life.

Turkish League Against Rheumatism Consensus Report: Recommendations For Management of Axial Spondyloarthritis

Objectives This study aims to update 2011 Turkish League Against Rheumatism SpondyloArthritis Recommendations, and to compose a national expert opinion on management of axial spondyloArthritis under guidance of current guidelines, and implantation and dissemination of these international guidelines into our clinical practice. Patients and methods A scientific committee of 28 experts consisting of 14 rheumatologists and 14 physical medicine and rehabilitation specialists (one of them also has an immunology PhD) was formed. The recommendations, systematic reviews, and meta-analyses including pharmacologic and non-pharmacologic treatment were scrutinized paying special attention with convenient key words. The draft of Turkish League Against Rheumatism opinion whose roof consisted of international treatment recommendations, particularly the Assessment of SpondyloArthritis International Society/European League Against Rheumatism recommendations was composed. Assessment of level of agreement with opinions by task force members was established through the Delphi technique. Voting using a numerical rating scale assessed the strength of each recommendation. Results Panel compromised on five basic principles and 13 recommendations including pharmacological and nonpharmacological methods. All of the recommendations had adequate strength. Conclusion Turkish League Against Rheumatism expert opinion for the management of axial spondyloArthritis was developed based on scientific evidence. These recommendations will be updated regularly in accordance with current developments.

Management of Psoriatic Arthritis: Turkish League Against Rheumatism (TLAR) Expert Opinions

Objectives This study aims to establish the first national treatment recommendations by the Turkish League Against Rheumatism (TLAR) for psoriatic arthritis (PsA) based on the current evidence. Patients and methods A systematic literature review was performed regarding the management of PsA. The TLAR expert committee consisted of 13 rheumatologists and 12 physical medicine and rehabilitation specialists experienced in the treatment and care of patients with PsA from 22 centers. The TLAR recommendations were built on those of European League Against Rheumatism (EULAR) 2015. Levels of evidence and agreement were determined. Results Recommendations included five overarching principles and 13 recommendations covering therapies for PsA, particularly focusing on musculoskeletal involvement. Level of agreement was greater than eight for each item. Conclusion This is the first paper that summarizes the recommendations of TLAR as regards the treatment of PsA. We believe that this paper provides Turkish physicians dealing with PsA patients a practical guide in their routine clinical practice.

Coexistence of Familial Mediterranean Fever With Ankylosing Spondylitis and Sjogren’s Syndrome: A Rare Occurrence

Familial Mediterranean fever is an autosomal recessive disease characterized by recurrent episodes of fever, peritonitis, synovitis, pleuritis, and erysipelas-like skin lesions. Sjogrens syndrome is a chronic autoimmune disorder characterized by dry eyes, dry mouth, and musculoskeletal involvement. Ankylosing spondylitis is an autoinflammatory rheumatic disease which affects mainly the axial skeleton. To our knowledge, coexistence of familial Mediterranean fever with ankylosing spondylitis and Sjogrens syndrome has not been reported previously in the literature. In this article, we report an unusual case of three autoinflammatory diseases in one patient.